A plot reportedly hatched and funded by President William Ruto to hoodwink Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Linda Mwananchi faction leaders into making peace with Linda Ground rivals has come a cropper after the former gave the retreat in Mombasa a wide berth.

Perceived as a trick to rein in Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, Geoffrey Osotsi and Siaya Country Governor James Orengo before eventually arm-twisting them to support Ruto, the retreat was a given a wide berth by the quartet, who have in the recent weeks voiced concerns about their safety.

The four have in the past month voiced concerns that they are targets of assassination by the state. Since the suspected assassination of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo last December, there have been fears that that Senator Sifuna may be walking in the shadows of state agents keen to silence him as way of making it easier for the incumbent to have a roller-coaster run in the countdown to the 2027 presidential election.

Indeed, in mid-April Sifuna ruled out meeting the faction led by Dr Oburu Odinga and Gladys Wanga or government officials in secret venues to discuss politics.

There is pressure on Senator Sifuna – the most popular and formidable politician in Kenya today – to run for presidency, which has heightened fears in the governing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as the Nairobi senator enjoys massive backing of the youth keen to give the old guard their marching orders to exit the political scene.

Sifuna’s support transcends ethnicity, region, generation, economic and ideological considerations compared to President Ruto, whose support in Nairobi, western and central Kenya has contracted by more than half of the 7,082,333 people that voted for him in 2022 presidential election.

Calls for unity and reconciliation took centre-stage as ODM kicked off a three-day retreat in Mombasa, against the backdrop of escalating internal divisions in the party.

The retreat, which began on Sunday, has brought together Members of Parliament, County Assembly leaders, the National Executive Council and cabinet secretaries incorporated into the broad-based government.

ODM National Chair Gladys Wanga said the meeting will address party unity, inclusivity and strategic direction ahead of the 2027 elections and beyond. Party Leader Oburu Odinga was absent during the opening session but is expected to join the retreat today.

The meeting comes against a backdrop of two factions – Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi – weeks after leadership changes that saw Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi removed as deputy party leader.

Linda Mwananchi faction, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna skipped the opening session that was largely attended by members aligned to Linda Ground faction.

The party has been grappling with internal unrest following the sudden demise of its founding leader, the late Raila Odinga. While some leaders support the government, others have opposed the broad-based arrangement.

ODM Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati affirmed that the contribution of Raila Odinga to both the party and the nation will endure for generations.

“Even though his absence is deeply felt, his legacy is alive in all of us. The ideals he stood for- justice, equity, inclusivity and democratic struggle remain upon which this proud movement stands,” said Arati.

Arati noted that the party is anchored not on personalities but on a constitution that provides clarity, structure and continuity. He reaffirmed that Dr Oburu Odinga is the party leader, days after Siaya Governor James Orengo declared himself acting party leader.

“There is no vacuum in ODM. The party leadership is firmly in place and fully functional. The party leader at the helm is Dr Oburu Odinga, supported by Governor Abdulswamad and me as his deputies,” he stated.

He emphasised that all members must respect those entrusted with leadership “not as a matter of convenience but as a matter of constitutional obligation and political discipline.”

Arati pointed out that unity is not optional, warning that without it, the party risks disintegration. He extended an olive branch to the Linda Mwananchi faction, urging them to return.

“Our brothers come back home, we are ready, we can receive you. We will work, we will be one, we will be strong,” Arati said.

However, he cautioned that they should not expect leadership positions to avoid misleading members, citing a biblical analogy on leadership.

“Come back home, my brothers and sisters we build our house, otherwise the ship is taking off.”

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said that while the country has a robust democracy and constitution, ethnicity remains a key foundation that must be addressed by building parties that transcend ethnic boundaries.

“We must not allow ODM to disintegrate. I want to tell our fellows from the lakeside that ODM is not a Luo party. The fights you have in your counties – supremacy battles and petty rivalries, should not kill Baba’s party,” Governor Abdullahi said.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho said he harbours ambitions of leading the party after serving as deputy party leader under the late Raila Odinga for 10 years, but stressed that the party is greater than individual aspirations.

He urged members to remain committed to the party’s ideals, values and principles amid ongoing political realignments as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Nassir talked about the need for unity now more than ever, urging members to preserve the party’s identity. He noted that the party has faced similar crossroads before, recalling past coalition arrangements and called on members to rally together and strengthen the movement.

“We need to come out of here stronger than ever. We must get out of here rejuvenated, mobilising our grassroots machinery and controlling the narrative,” he said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sadik Hassan