Kisii Governor Simba Arati, speaking on behalf of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga, has defended the party’s broad-based political approach, dismissing claims that the strategy amounts to a betrayal of ODM’s long-standing political struggle.
Arati maintained that the party’s current political direction was a deliberate and calculated decision aimed at advancing its historical objectives, despite criticism from some quarters.
“There are those who have sought to mischaracterise our strategic choices,” Arati said, insisting that ODM’s broad-based approach should not be viewed as a departure from the principles that have guided the party over the years.
He further argued that the strategy was neither a fallacy nor a betrayal of the party’s struggle, but rather a continuation of its political mission through a different approach.
“Rather, it’s a sophisticated, deliberate continuation of it,” he stated.
The remarks come amid ongoing political debate over ODM’s engagement with the broad-based government arrangement and questions about whether the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration aligns with its traditional opposition role.
Arati’s defence signals the party leadership’s determination to justify its current political strategy to supporters while maintaining that its broader objectives remain intact.
The broad-based arrangement has generated differing opinions within ODM, with some leaders backing political cooperation while others have raised concerns about the party’s direction and its commitment to the interests of its supporters.
