A tense Kenya ODM party split exploded into chaos at Ufungamano House today as police tried to shut down a rival gathering while the main party event took place across town. Delegates pushed back hard, and the meeting pushed ahead anyway, leaving many wondering just how deep the divisions inside ODM have grown.
It happened on Friday, March 27, in Nairobi. A group calling themselves Linda Mwananchi organised what they named the ‘People’s NDC’. Senator Edwin Sifuna took the lead along with Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
They wanted to hold their own national delegates conference separate from the official one running at Jamhuri Grounds under Oburu Odinga and other party heavyweights.
Police showed up in large numbers early in the morning. Officers sealed off the entrance to Ufungamano House on Mamlaka Road. They told the organisers the event had to stop because proper notice for the meeting had not come through in time. Some reports said the notification delays gave them reason to step in and prevent the gathering from going ahead.
Things got heated quickly. When Sifuna stepped up to speak, security officers moved inside the auditorium. They briefly stopped his address and created real tension in the hall. Delegates inside grew restless.
A short time later a group of them broke through the police lines and forced their way back in. The meeting picked up again amid the standoff. Speakers carried on while outside officers kept watch and tried to control access.
Governor Orengo did not hold back. He told the police any attempt to rough up people there would bring serious consequences. He said the group was ready to stand their ground no matter what.
Other leaders echoed the same message, insisting the People’s NDC was properly called and important for ordinary party members who felt left out of the main process.
Meanwhile, the official ODM delegates’ conference continued at Jamhuri Grounds. That event focused on party decisions, including changes in leadership such as dropping some officials from key positions.
The two meetings happening at the same time on the same day made the split inside ODM impossible to ignore. Supporters on both sides took to social media to argue their case, with some praising the defiance at Ufungamano and others calling it a dangerous challenge to party unity.
This clash did not come out of nowhere. For months different voices inside ODM have raised concerns about direction strategy and who really holds power after recent elections and internal battles.
The Linda Mwananchi group has positioned itself as the voice of grassroots members who want more say and less top-down control. They argue the main party structures have drifted away from the original ideals that built ODM into a major force.
Ordinary Kenyans watching from outside the party see familiar patterns. Political gatherings often turn into tests of strength, especially when factions compete for attention and loyalty.
Today’s events at Ufungamano House showed how quickly things can escalate when police get involved in what many view as internal party business. Questions are already floating about whether the intervention was purely about meeting rules or if it reflected bigger political calculations ahead of future contests.
Sifuna and his team managed to complete parts of their programme despite the interruptions. They spoke about reclaiming the party for the people and addressing issues that affect daily life across the country. Photos and short videos from inside the hall spread fast showing delegates seated and listening even as police remained visible at the doors.
The main ODM gathering at Jamhuri Grounds went on with its own agenda. Leaders there focused on unity and moving the party forward under its current direction.
Yet the parallel event made it clear that not everyone is on the same page. Some analysts say this kind of public split could weaken ODM if the differences are not handled carefully in the weeks ahead.
Currently, the images from Ufungamano House best illustrate the situation. Delegates refusing to leave. Police trying to keep order. Leaders speaking firmly even when interrupted.
All of this contributes to a chaotic chapter in the ongoing narrative of one of Kenya’s largest political parties. Many wonder whether this will lead to more talks behind closed doors or if the divide will keep widening.
Kenyans from all walks of life pay attention when ODM makes news because the party has shaped national politics for years. Today’s drama reminds everyone that politics is rarely quiet, especially when power and principles collide. As both sides wrap up their meetings, the real test will come in how they handle the fallout and whether they find any common ground before the next big political season arrives.
