ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga had an uncomfortable moment on Tuesday after she was loudly heckled by residents in Kisumu County, in what appeared to be a clear sign of growing dissatisfaction within the party’s stronghold.
Wanga was attending a public meeting in Nyando, Kisumu, where she had gone to explain how locals would supposedly benefit from the emerging cooperation between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The partnership, which some leaders are calling a “broad-based government,” has stirred intense debate across the country—especially among ODM supporters.
Speaking in Dholuo, Wanga attempted to assure residents that the Luo community would gain politically and economically from the alliance. But almost immediately after she began her remarks, the crowd responded with boos, jeers, and visible hostility, forcing an awkward pause in her speech.
The incident is likely to strengthen claims by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and other dissenting leaders who argue that the party’s grassroots supporters are strongly opposed to working with Ruto’s government. According to Sifuna’s camp, the alliance undermines the opposition’s role and betrays the expectations of ODM voters.
Wanga, however, remains among the senior ODM figures pushing for closer cooperation with UDA as the 2027 presidential election approaches. This has deepened divisions within the party, with ODM now appearing split into two rival factions—one aligned with acting party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga and leaders like Wanga, and another led by Sifuna, which seems to enjoy greater support among ordinary supporters.
As tensions rise, Tuesday’s heckling incident in Kisumu may be a warning sign that selling the ODM-UDA alliance to the party base will not be easy.
Watch the moment Gladys Wanga was heckled in Kisumu below.
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