Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has publicly defended Winnie Odinga, slamming fellow ODM leaders for what he calls their betrayal of the party’s founding vision.

In a post on X on 15 November 2025, Amisi accused some party officials of being “Ruto-sponsored sellouts” who lack genuine loyalty to Raila Odinga’s ideals. He praised Winnie as a true torchbearer of her late father’s legacy.

“Winnie Odinga has been the pillar of her father; Baba died in her hands. I have seen her endure teargas and shield the father from political mandarins,” Amisi said.

He argued that while some ODM figures have shifted allegiances or aligned with rival political forces, Winnie’s commitment remains unshakable. For Amisi, her presence is stabilising during a turbulent period.

Amisi added that a reckoning is coming within ODM — a moment when those faithful to Raila’s dream will separate from those seeking personal gain.

“You can kill and sell the party to Ruto,” he wrote, “but you shall never kill the dream of Raila for a better Kenya as long as Caleb is around.”

The Context: Internal Tensions at ODM

Amisi’s defence of Winnie follows her powerful remarks at ODM’s 20th anniversary in Mombasa on 14 November, held just a month after her father’s passing. There, she issued a stern warning to party leaders allegedly plotting to betray the movement.

She accused some of discussing the sale of ODM in “pillow-talk” corridors and insisted the party’s future would not be bartered in backroom deals.

Amisi’s Broader Critique

This is not the first time Amisi, a vocal ODM MP, has expressed unease with the party’s direction. He has previously warned that the party risks internal split due to its cooperation with President William Ruto’s government.

In July 2025, he said he would not seek re-election on an ODM ticket if the working arrangement with Ruto continued — while offering to stay if the party returned to its roots.

What This Means for ODM

Amisi’s public backing of Winnie and sharp critique of other leaders adds fuel to mounting tensions within ODM.

His words suggest a divide between those who are pushing for ideological consistency — even at the risk of allying with no one — and others who may be pursuing political convenience.

For party loyalists, the question now is: which ODM will survive? The one true to Raila’s legacy, or a more opportunistic version that mirrors shifting alliances?