“If Not Ruto, Then Who?” Mbadi Dares Sifuna, Babu, and Orengo to Reveal 2027 Game Plan
In a surprising tactical shift, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has pivoted from calling for heads to roll to calling for a seat at the table. Just days after the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) moved to recommend the ouster of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Mbadi is now urging the “rebel” faction—led by Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino—to return to the party mainstream and justify their anti-Ruto stance.
The Orange party is currently split down the middle into two warring camps. On one side is the “Linda Ground” faction, led by acting party leader Oburu Oginga and Mbadi, who argue that a pre-election pact with President Ruto is the only way to secure a Luo Deputy President in 2027 and the Presidency in 2032. Opposing them is the “Linda Wananchi” movement, which recently held a massive, teargas-filled rally in Kitengela. This group refuses to “sanitize” the government, citing corruption and the high cost of living as deal-breakers for any alliance with the current administration.
Speaking alongside the Luo Council of Elders on February 17, 2026, Mbadi warned that the internal friction is becoming dangerous, noting the tragic loss of life during recent political tours in Kitengela. He challenged the trio of Sifuna, Orengo, and Babu to be honest about their alternatives.
“In Kenya, there are just two political groupings… If you don’t want to work with Ruto, who do you want to work with? Come and persuade us,” Mbadi challenged.
With the National Delegates Conference (NDC) looming, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While Sifuna’s team maintains they are the true custodians of the party’s social democratic ideals, the government-leaning wing views them as “populists” serving foreign masters. As the party attempts to navigate its identity crisis, one question remains: Will ODM remain the champion of the opposition, or will it fully transform into “the system” ahead of 2027?
