Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has become the second senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) figure to threaten quitting the party, just days after Co-operatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya issued a similar warning, deepening cracks within the opposition outfit following the death of its longtime leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Amisi delivered a sharp ultimatum to ODM, vowing to exit the party if it continues cooperating with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He set March 9, 2026 as his deadline, warning that his decision would have far-reaching political consequences.
“If by March 9 ODM is still propagating Ruto’s shenanigans, I will make an announcement that will shape Kenyan politics and politically dismantle William Ruto,” Amisi declared.
His remarks come barely days after Oparanya publicly stated he was ready to leave ODM if doing so would help unite the Western region, a statement made during the burial of businessman Cyrus Jirongo on December 30. The back-to-back threats from two influential leaders have amplified speculation of an impending ODM implosion.
Amisi warned that continued alignment with the government risks reducing ODM into a regional party confined to Nyanza, drawing parallels with the decline of KANU from a national powerhouse to a marginal outfit. He lamented that ODM, once a formidable mass movement under Raila Odinga, who died on October 15, 2025, is rapidly losing its national appeal.
The lawmaker sharply criticised the pro-government faction within ODM, naming Party Leader Oburu Oginga, Governor Gladys Wanga, and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, accusing them of diluting the party’s identity through collaboration with the state.
“When a party loses its vibrance and ideological clarity, reviving it becomes almost impossible,” Amisi said.
He also dismissed the emerging United Opposition coalition involving Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya and others, arguing it lacks the structure needed to defeat Ruto in 2027.
Internal dissent has continued to grow, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino openly criticising ODM’s alliance with UDA, saying it undermines accountability and betrays grassroots supporters.
With succession battles, ideological confusion and elite deal-making accusations intensifying, Amisi warned that ODM’s grip on the masses is weakening – a development he believes could severely hurt the party’s fortunes in the 2027 general elections.