Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi speaking in a past function. Photo file. 
By Ben Okweingoti
A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in Kilifi County has appealed to the party’s top leadership to resolve internal disagreements privately, warning that public spats risk undermining the stature and legacy of the country’s oldest political party.
Speaking in Kilifi, Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi, alongside Shela Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Twahir Abdulkarim, expressed concern over the recent public exchange between ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed. They said the matter should have been addressed through internal party mechanisms rather than aired in public.
Mnyazi maintained that ODM remains a strong and respected political outfit and should not be weakened by avoidable internal wrangles.
“ODM is a well-structured party with established organs such as the National Delegates Conference (NDC) and the Central Governing Council (CGC), which are meant to handle internal issues. Washing our dirty linen in public only serves to erode the respect the party has enjoyed over the years,” she said.
She added that the party’s leadership should urgently convene a meeting to defuse tensions and restore unity, noting that ODM supporters would not allow a few individuals to dent the party’s image.
“We are calling on our able party leadership, led by Oburu Oginga, to convene a meeting so that these issues can be addressed amicably. We will not allow the party to go down,” Mnyazi stated.
On his part, MCA Twahir Abdulkarim urged ODM leaders to uphold decorum and respect the party’s structures, even as they exercise their freedom of expression.
“ODM commands respect across the region. Leaders should avoid openly insulting one another. Some matters must be handled internally in order to protect the dignity and unity of the party,” he said.
The leaders emphasized that maintaining internal cohesion was critical as ODM continues to play a key role in national politics.
