Mama Ida Odinga and Oburu Odinga during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday, October 19 2025.
Tensions appear to be simmering within the Odinga family following President William Ruto’s appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a move that has sparked internal debate and prompted an urgent family meeting.
The appointment, announced on Friday, has reportedly caught some family members off guard, with Raila Odinga’s eldest son, Raila Odinga Junior, publicly expressing surprise and discomfort over the decision, suggesting the family may not have been fully consulted.
In a now-deleted post shared shortly after the announcement, Junior hinted at urgent issues requiring discussion with his uncle, Oburu Odinga, the current Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader and widely regarded as the family patriarch. The cryptic message immediately fueled speculation about growing divisions within the influential political family.
Moments later, Junior issued a follow-up statement clarifying his position, stressing that he was not a politician and wished to distance himself from the political fallout surrounding the appointment. He revealed that he had reached out to his uncle, who agreed to convene an emergency family meeting scheduled for February 1, although Junior indicated he would have preferred the discussions to take place sooner.
“I’m not a politician. I love everyone and respect everyone. My uncle has agreed to a family meeting on the 1st; I would like it sooner. I don’t know what is happening. Do not involve me in the politics,” Junior said.
Raila Odinga Junior addressing delegates during the ODM at 20 celebrations in November 2025
The reaction has been interpreted by observers as a sign of underlying unease within the family over the political implications of Ida Odinga’s appointment, particularly against the backdrop of ODM’s evolving relationship with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Following the passing of their father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Junior and his sister Winnie Odinga have become increasingly vocal about the direction of ODM, openly questioning the party’s continued cooperation with President Ruto’s administration. The siblings have argued that ODM should chart an independent political path as the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.
Their recent public engagements and remarks have pointed to what analysts describe as a generational and strategic divide within the party. While some senior leaders and family members favour sustained engagement with the government as a pragmatic approach, others believe the alliance risks diluting ODM’s identity as an opposition force.
These tensions were on display during recent political rallies, including a high-profile gathering held on January 18 in Kibra—long regarded as Raila Odinga’s political stronghold. The appearance of Junior and Winnie at the rally was widely interpreted as a signal that the internal debate within ODM is intensifying, blending both political strategy and deeply personal family dynamics.
At the party level, ODM itself continues to grapple with internal friction. Two competing factions have emerged, one aligned with party leader Oburu Odinga and another backing Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, reflecting broader disagreements over leadership, strategy, and the party’s future role in national politics.
The divisions have been further compounded by disputes involving Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, with some party members blaming him and other leaders for ODM’s loss in the 2022 presidential election. These disagreements have deepened mistrust among party ranks, even as ODM and UDA maintain public signals of cooperation.
Despite the internal wrangles, both ODM and the ruling party have indicated openness to forming a pre-election political pact ahead of the 2027 polls, building on the post-election cooperation agreement reached after the fiercely contested 2022 elections.
Mama Ida Odinga, who has yet to publicly comment on her appointment, will now await vetting and approval by the National Assembly. If approved, she will represent Kenya at UNEP headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, placing her at the centre of international environmental diplomacy.
As the vetting process unfolds, attention is expected to remain firmly on the Odinga family and ODM, with the planned emergency meeting likely to shape not only family relations but also the party’s political posture in the months ahead.
