Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has denied claims that he has boycotted a crucial Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) meeting.
The legislator said that he is not a member of the party’s Central Committee
and therefore cannot be accused of skipping its sessions.
In a statement on Monday, Amollo said the record
needed to be set straight amid growing speculation about internal disagreements
and attendance patterns within ODM’s top organs.
“May it be known that as Deputy Chair of ODM, I
have not boycotted any meeting. I’m not a member of the Central Committee,” he
said.
Amollo, a senior legal and political figure within the party, emphasised
that he remains actively engaged in ODM affairs within the scope of his formal
responsibilities.
The clarification is aimed at quelling rumours
of disaffection within ODM’s upper ranks at a time when the opposition
coalition is recalibrating its strategy and messaging on national politics and
succession questions.
The Rarieda MP has recently been vocal as he warned that Kenya’s broad-based government, though positive for national unity, is inadvertently weakening parliamentary oversight.
Speaking on Spice FM on October 23, 2025, Otiende said the arrangement, designed to promote inclusivity and political stability, has reduced scrutiny of government bills and policies.
“I can tell you that while the broad-based government is a good thing for this country, one of the unintended effects it has had on Parliament is to reduce the level of scrutiny and opposition to bills that may not be good,” he said.
The legislator noted that lawmakers who question certain government proposals are often accused of opposing the broad-based arrangement.
“Some of us who question this are then said to be opposed to the broad-based government. I am one, for example, because I raise questions during debate, and some people have concluded that I am among those opposed,” he said.
Otiende clarified that he supports the unity government but maintains that MPs must retain their constitutional role of oversight.
“I support the broad-based government, but that 10-point framework agreement does not say anywhere that we must support legislation and proposals even if they are not correct,” he added.
Otiende’s remarks came amid growing debate on the implications of the broad-based government model formed to bridge political divisions after the 2022 elections.
On Monday, the ODM
party’s key committee began holding talks to iron out differences that are threatening to break the party into pieces.
Members of the CMC under the tutelage of party leader Oburu Oginga held a meeting at Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort in Kilifi County for the crucial talks.
Oginga called for the meeting following days of squabbles and public spats involving senior party officials who have differed on the future of ODM following its founding leader, Raila Odinga’s death in October last year.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir posted pictures of officials arriving at the meeting on Monday morning, saying he was there for ‘a candid and forward-looking engagement on emerging political and national issues.
“As the Orange Democratic Movement, we remain committed to internal consultation, unity of purpose, and principled leadership as we listen to our members and the Kenyan people while shaping the Party’s direction in the period ahead,” Nassir said.
The party has expressed sharp differences, mainly pitting Secretary General Edwin Sifuna against chairperson Gladys Wanga and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, with the country witnessing a public spat between the two camps.
ODM
announced that it will immediately embark on structured preparations aimed at forming the next government in 2027.
In a statement issued after a meeting of its Central Committee, the party noted that with the General Election scheduled for next year, it could not afford to delay its preparations.
“The Committee directed that structured work commence immediately towards positioning ODM not only to contest next year’s general elections, but to form the next government, including policy development, organisational readiness, coalition building, and candidate preparedness,” the party said.
During the meeting, the committee resolved to initiate structured negotiations with other political formations as part of its coalition-building efforts.
“The committee meeting expressed the intention to initiate structured negotiations with different political formations, beginning with United Democratic Alliance,” the statement said.
“To this end, we have mandated the Party Leader to commence this process. Concurrently, consultations with party members will proceed, culminating in the National Delegates Convention,” it added.