Raila Odinga’s death exposes deep family rift inside Kenya’s opposition ODM

• Odinga family split mirrors wider ODM divisions
• Ida Odinga’s UN role reshapes party power balance

NAIROBI, KENYA – Political infighting inside Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement has split the family of its late founder Raila Odinga into rival camps backing opposing paths for the opposition party.

The rift, now playing out publicly, has laid bare deep disagreements within ODM following Raila’s death on October 15, 2025, after two decades at the helm of Kenya’s largest opposition movement. Founded in 2005, ODM was synonymous with Raila’s leadership, political ideology and personal authority, which often helped keep internal disputes in check.