Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, has defended ODM members slamming President Ruto's administration, asserting that ODM remains in the opposition and is committed to advocating for the marginalised.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong’o, Siaya's James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna have been recently critical of Ruto’s administration, despite the broad-based government arrangement.

The former Prime Minister maintains that there was no coalition agreement between ODM and UDA, reiterating that the two parties are only working together for the betterment of Kenyans.

“There is no coalition between ODM and UDA. It is an arrangement based on an MoU which was signed between us in broad daylight,” Raila noted.

Odinga clarified that the leaders are merely addressing issues related to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ODM and UDA and dismissed any fears of a fallout within the party.

“I do not see the reason why people are bickering. When James Orengo talks, he’s talking on the basis of MoU between ODM and UDA. He has not committed any crime, he’s got a democratic right to say what he wants to say,” said Odinga.

Orengo, a veteran politician and Raila’s ally once dubbed the “walking constitution” for his legal mastery, has publicly opposed ODM’s perceived cooperation with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the broad-based government.

Orengo has criticised Raila directly in political gatherings and accused senior ODM figures of sycophancy, arguing they have morphed into Ruto’s “praise and worship team”.

"As ODM, we can’t keep praising this regime all the time. Tell your leaders the truth,” Orengo said during a meeting attended by Ruto and Raila. “I will not bow to any political pressure to support the so-called broad-based government.” He added Kenya’s democracy wasn’t fought for leaders to be idolised.

Orengo described Ruto as a “passing cloud”, citing the president’s failure to fulfil key campaign promises, such as lowering the cost of living. He went further, branding Raila’s alliance with his former rival as “an abomination and a disaster”.

“Where is Ruto taking us? Into a sinking ship,” Orengo said.

But it's not just Orengo, most recently, Kisumu Governor Nyong’o wrote to President Ruto, accusing him of sabotaging devolution.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 22, Nyong'o said that actions by the Ruto administration reflect leadership styles that predate the 2010 Constitution,arguing the regime has gone back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era.

Nyong'o warned that such moves threaten the goals of building a democratic and developmental state.

“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era. The 2010 constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes, which will affect not only devolution but the very ethos of building a national democratic and developmental state," he said.

On the other hand, during Raila Odinga's bodyguard George Oduor's funeral, Sifuna delivered a bold address aimed at Ruto, calling out what he described as self-inflicted difficulties in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He drew attention to the recent Echoes of War controversy, urging the president to take control of his government.

"Like the Bishop mentioned, your job is very hard, and I agree with him because at some point I usually wonder if you get to sleep.

"However, there are some difficulties you have imposed on yourself. Like the drama we saw in Nakuru, where Butere Girls' High School students were stopped from performing, that’s a problem you have imposed on yourself," he said.

Speaking during the same event, Orengo declared he would not join the "praise-singing bandwagon" for the current government, calling for the need for honest discourse over uncritical support.

He cautioned that the country risked deterioration if leaders continued to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths.