MP Caroli: ODM is losing strongholds to emerging competitors

According to him, ODM has been invaded by self-centred leaders who have slowly espoused an obsession with enriching themselves and not serving the party's interests.

He added that the party that does not reflect the aspirations of its supporters and most ODM strongholds, Nyanza and Western regions, are slowly shifting support to other political parties.

"Do we have leadership that believes in the co-values of ODM? Can they inspire our members? Why are people running away from us? Why must we all depend on Raila Odinga? ODM has become mercantilist," he told Citizen Digital on Thursday.

"ODM will still be there, but in our strongholds there will be other political parties that are going to contest. Even with the current by-election, you see a lot of zoning between UDA and ODM."

He added that ODM's partnership with President William Ruto's administration under the broad-based government partnership has severely eroded the party, creating cracks among key players in the party.

"The idea of broad-based has brought alot of schism in the party. We cannot lie to people, our supporters are not children. There is a group that does not support the idea of meeting the president," he added.

"ODM is not what it was 20 years ago. When we first went for elections in 2007 ODM won 96 seats and had other affiliates. In 2013, we were down to 87 and down we have gone down further."

Some of the cracks have been exhibited through recent threats from some of the party members who have vowed to exit the party if it backs President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Among them is Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who said that party loyalty should not override personal conviction, especially on matters as significant as endorsing a presidential candidate.