Siaya Senator James Orengo must now have to desist from dragging Deputy President William Ruto's name into ODM internal issues for him to have 'harmony' within the party ranks, Raila Odinga is believed to have warned him.
The veteran politician has been having turbulent times within the orange party, with the loss of Chris Karan in Ugenya constituency directly blamed on his as lead campaigner.
Last week, reports the Standard, Odinga summoned Orengo to his Capitol Hill offices where he also asked him to drop plot to introduce impeachment motion against Dr Ruto, arguing that the move is working against the party.
“Achana kabisa na kuimba jina ya huyu mtu. Wacha mambo ya kuzungumzia mswada wa kumkabili bungeni, wacha kufananisha huyu mtu na kitu chochote cha chama, huyu siyo wa ligi yangu utampatia sifa za bure,” yadaiwa ni mfano wa maneno ambayo Baba alimuonya Orengo juu ya Ruto.
It loosely translates to: "Stop talking about this person (Ruto). Drop the motion against him in parliament. Desist from linking him to anything to do with the party. He does not deserve that because he's not in my league."
During the by-election in which Karan lost to David Ochieng' of MDG, Orengo had warned voters that the race was between Raila and Ruto. At the end, ODM lost even as Ruto celebrated the victory without campaigning for Ochieng'.
Last month, it was also reported that Odinga raised reservations to Orengo's claim that he has a secret MoU with President Uhuru Kenyatta over 2022 polls. The impeachment motion threats by Orengo revamped Ruto's jibes against Raila.
Mr Orengo, a long term ally of Odinga, I believed to be unhappy with Raila's decision to close ranks with Uhuru without involving him. Mr Odinga kept most of his allies in darkness ahead of March 2018 truce with Uhuru. He however dismisses claims of strained relationship with Orengo.
"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.
Dr Ruto has never spared Raila in his public speeches, arguing that Mr Odinga is crafting his downfall using his truce with Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. But Raila has often denied the allegations.