ODM leader Raila Odinga is facing an aggressive bid by power-hungry politicians to oust him from the leadership of the party, ahead of the next general election.
Powerful ODM governors, who have been supporting Raila's presidential ambitions over the years, have declared their interest to go for the top job in 2022. And considering that they will have finished their two terms in office as governors, the county bosses do not seem willing to settle for anything less.
Already, Raila is being isolated by fellow NASA principals Moses Wetangula, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi over betrayal. Each of the three principals, who have their own parties, is expected to run for president against Jubilee's William Ruto when President Uhuru Kenyatta retires.
ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho, who is serving his second term as the governor of Mombasa, is ready to topple Raila and be the party's flag-bearer in the next general election.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, a senior official in the party and Raila's close ally, has said he will run for president in 2022.
The governor of Kilifi County, Amason Kingi, who has been a key Raila supporter within ODM over the years, has announced his presidential ambitions. But Kingi will fight it out with close ally Joho for the control of the Coast region, if he is to mount a serious campaign.
The last time Raila faced anything close to this internal battle, ahead of the 2013 general elections, he lost the support of his most trusted foot soldiers, such as William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi, who bolted out of ODM. It is not likely the ODM boss will surrender his party to any of the ambitious governors.
And if, as expected, Raila goes ahead to insist that he will run for president against DP Ruto in 2022, all the power-hungry ODM governors will leave the party and find parties that will guarantee them a place in the ballot. Either way, Raila appears set to lose.