A furious ODM leader Raila Odinga summoned and reprimanded Siaya Senator James Orengo and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over various issues last week, reports the Standard.
Last month, it emerged that Mr Odinga was unhappy at Orengo, accusing him albeit secretly of undermining the handshake between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to insiders, Odinga had reservations with Orengo's remarks that he had a secretly deal with Uhuru over 2022 succession politics. In subsequent public rallies, ODM chairman John Mbadi seemed to distance Mr Orengo from various public issues.
“It should be noted that their remarks are not attributable to ODM. Our people must be responsible in their statements going forward, bearing in mind that the handshake had nothing to do with the next General Election,” Mbadi had said.
But according to ODM insiders, the differences may have escalated when Odinga reportedly called for an urgent meeting with the two and cautioned them on their approach to issues.
Particularly, Odinga was unhappy with the approach used in Embakasi South and Ugenya constituencies by-elections where ODM lost. In the meeting held at Capitol Hill, Odinga scolded Orengo for 'reckless' utterances where he invoked the name of Ruto in many rallies.
For Sufuna, the paper reports, Raila also questioned his decision to issues party statements without consulting. He also questioned why Sifuna dragged Ruto's name in Embakasi South.
Also, Sifuna's inability to have prior intelligence on Wajir West by-election angered Raila. ODM learnt about Prof Yusuf Elmi's decision to quit for Jubilee hours before the latter met DP William Ruto.
On prior intelligence, Odinga further wondered why Sifuna has not noticed the party's dwindling fortunes at the coast. He specifically raised issues with Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori, who he says may have lost touch with the ground despite surviving expulsion.
Deputy President William Ruto celebrated ODM loss in by-elections before poaching Prof Yusuf Elmi without ODM knowledge, a move that didn't go well with the former Prime Minister.
“There are no issues at all in ODM; there are no differences in our party. The two by-elections are really like a drop of water in the ocean. ODM remains a very strong and united party,” said Raila, dismissing his alleged differences with Orengo.