ODM NDC 2026 Dispute Escalates as Babu Owino, Catherine Omanyo Trade Sharp Words
The ODM NDC 2026 dispute has erupted into open confrontation after Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) interim Secretary General Catherine Omanyo publicly clashed over the legitimacy of the party’s upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).
The conference, scheduled for March 27, 2026, was expected to unify the party and chart its future direction. Instead, it has exposed simmering tensions within ODM’s ranks.
Babu Owino sets strict conditions
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Babu questioned the legality of the NDC and challenged the authority behind it.
He insisted that he and members of the Linda Mwananchi faction would only attend the conference if delegates were properly vetted and the meeting was officially convened by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
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“We can only attend the NDC if the delegates are audited one by one and if the NDC is called by the Secretary General, who is Edwin Sifuna. If Sifuna does not call the NDC, then it will not be an NDC. It will be a Kangaroo meeting,” Babu stated.
The outspoken MP further argued that failure to follow constitutional procedures would compromise the party’s structure.
“We do not want an NDC that is not procedurally called. We want an NDC called by the Secretary General. None of the office holders followed the procedure to be in office except the SG,” he said.
Babu also questioned the powers of the party’s top organ to appoint Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga as ODM party leader, suggesting that such decisions must strictly adhere to party rules.
Omanyo fires back
In a swift rebuttal, Omanyo dismissed Babu’s assertions, maintaining that the ODM constitution clearly outlines how the NDC should be convened.
According to her, the National Executive Committee (NEC) holds the authority to call the conference, subject to ratification by the National Governing Council (NGC).
She explained that while the Secretary General typically issues the official notice, the constitution allows flexibility.
“The notice and agenda convening the meeting shall be sent out by the Secretary General, failing which, any other party official specially appointed for that purpose by the NEC at least 21 days before such a date and published on the party website and in at least one daily English newspaper with wide national circulation,” Omanyo stated.
Omanyo emphasized that the NDC is constitutionally mandated to take place once every five years, no later than December 31 of the fifth year, at a venue and date determined by the NEC.
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Growing fault lines within ODM
The escalating exchange signals deeper divisions within ODM at a politically sensitive moment. What was once an internal procedural debate has now spilled into the public domain, raising questions about party cohesion ahead of future electoral cycles.
The Linda Mwananchi faction’s insistence on procedural purity reflects broader concerns about internal democracy. Meanwhile, party officials aligned with the NEC appear determined to proceed within what they describe as constitutional frameworks.
Political observers note that how ODM resolves the ODM NDC 2026 dispute could shape its unity and influence in the coming years.
As March 27 approaches, all eyes remain fixed on whether reconciliation will prevail — or whether the party’s internal cracks will widen further.
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ODM NDC 2026 Dispute Escalates as Babu Owino, Catherine Omanyo Trade Sharp Words
