A bitter power struggle has erupted within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following reports that Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late party founder Raila Odinga, has locked interim party leader Oburu Odinga out of the late Raila’s historic Capitol Hill headquarters in Nairobi.
The move signals a dramatic escalation of tensions between the Odinga family and the party leadership just five months after Raila Odinga died in Kerala, India, and threatens to fracture one of Kenya’s most influential political movements.
Battle over party headquarters
Sources within the party say the dispute stems from the ownership of the Capitol Hill building, long regarded as the nerve centre of ODM’s political operations.
According to insiders familiar with the matter, Raila Odinga personally purchased the building during his lifetime and registered it under the Odinga family rather than the party. With the property now considered a private family asset, Winnie Odinga has reportedly moved to enforce control over the premises.
The decision effectively bars the party leadership under Oburu from operating out of the building that for decades served as the opposition movement’s headquarters.
For years, the compound hosted strategy meetings, campaign planning sessions, and high-level political negotiations, becoming synonymous with Raila Odinga’s political command centre.
Oburu forced to relocate
Stripped of access to Capitol Hill, Oburu Odinga has relocated ODM’s operational base to a residence along Riverside Drive in Nairobi.
Party insiders say the new base was acquired by a long-time ODM financier, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding leadership transition.
The move represents a symbolic and logistical shift for the party, which now finds itself operating away from the iconic compound that anchored its identity for over two decades.
Staff purge sparks emotional scenes
The crisis deepened earlier this week when a meeting convened at the Capitol Hill offices reportedly turned into an emotional farewell for several members of Raila Odinga’s personal secretariat.
Long-serving aides were informed their services were no longer required, triggering tears among staff who had worked with the former prime minister through multiple election cycles and political crises.
Among those reportedly affected was Raila’s long-time driver, who had served the opposition leader for nearly two decades.
However, ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen sought to downplay the scale of the changes, saying only a small number of staff were affected.
“People have not been sacked,” Ong’wen said, explaining that some individuals had been working informally after Raila’s death and were being offered transitional arrangements.
Deepening factional divisions
The property dispute comes as ODM grapples with one of the most serious internal splits in its history.
The party is currently divided between rival factions over its political direction and its relationship with President William Ruto’s administration.
One camp led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has openly criticized the party’s cooperation with the government, presenting a report rating the ODM–UDA power-sharing arrangement poorly.
Meanwhile, the faction aligned with Oburu Odinga has defended the engagement as necessary for national stability.
Uncertain future for Raila’s political legacy
The latest developments underscore the growing uncertainty surrounding ODM’s future following the death of its founding leader.
For decades, Raila Odinga served as the party’s unifying figure, balancing competing interests while maintaining loyalty among grassroots supporters.
But with the party now facing property battles, staff purges, and factional rivalries, analysts warn that ODM may be entering its most turbulent chapter yet.
As one party insider put it, the padlocks at Capitol Hill symbolize more than a property dispute.
