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Winnie Odinga Calls Out ODM Leaders Claiming to Follow Raila’s Orders

East African Legislative Assembly MP Winnie Odinga delivered a forceful message to party loyalists at a packed ODM rally at Kamukunji Grounds on Sunday, January 18, 2026, declaring that no member will be expelled from the party despite rising tensions over its direction following the death of her father, Raila Odinga. Winnie drew on a classic Kenyan rap song to address critics and lighten the mood. Referencing late rapper E-Sir’s hit “Hamnitishi”, she told supporters that threats would not intimidate her. “Wakati nimekuwa nikiketi hapa. Kuna nyimbo moja imekuwa ikichezwa kichwani,” she said amid cheers from the crowd. “Hii nyimbo iliandikwa na msanii mwingine alikuwa anaitwa E-Sir, marehemu. Kijana yetu ya South C hapa. Na hiyo nyimbo ilikuwa inaitwa, Hamnitishi. Na alianza hiyo nyimbo na methali. Akasema hivi, ‘vitisho vya peni mbili vitanifanya mimi nini.’ Hamnitishi! Hamnibabaisha,” Winnie added. Calling Out Opportunists Winnie criticized opportunistic members seeking to seize control of ODM in the wake of Raila Odinga’s passing. “On this journey, we were passengers, and Baba was the driver. One day, we woke up and were shocked. The driver had died. Slowly, some people moved to the front, grabbed the steering wheel, and pulled it in different directions,” she said. “They pushed us, passengers, to the back. They forgot Baba died only yesterday. Why the rush? Stop the bus. Let us talk. Let us decide together and move forward.” She also highlighted that not everyone who claimed to support Raila was genuine. “We see that not everyone among us who believed in Baba was true. Some were just using him,” she stated. Family Remains Neutral Winnie assured the public that the Odinga family is staying neutral amid factional disputes. “As a family, we are not in either faction. We are Team Baba,” she said, calling on party members to show patience ahead of the National Delegates Congress (NDC), which she predicted would be heated. She dismissed claims by some leaders that they were acting on instructions left by Raila. “Those who are saying Baba said this or that are not well mannered,” she said, adding that she rejects any effort to chase out members with differing opinions. “As the lastborn, when you see things go wrong, lazima uchome. I have come kuchoma,” Winnie told supporters, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. Emotional Return to Kibra Winnie began the day with a heartfelt address at ACK Holy Trinity Parish in Makina, Kibra, apologizing for her delayed return to the community after her father’s death. “Today, we have come back home. This is a place we have come all our lives. I would like to apologise for taking so long to come back. I was a bit troubled. I didn’t know how to come back to Kibra without Baba, I didn’t know how to talk to you, I thought I’d cry,” she said. Her brother, Raila Odinga Junior, and Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto joined her at the service. After the church event, Winnie and her team proceeded to Kamukunji Grounds, where she addressed thousands of party supporters, reiterating her call for unity and patience as ODM navigates a new era without its founding leader. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram

admin Published: January 19, 2026 | Updated: January 19, 2026 3 minutes read

Winnie drew on a classic Kenyan rap song to address critics and lighten the mood. Referencing late rapper E-Sir’s hit “Hamnitishi”, she told supporters that threats would not intimidate her.

“Wakati nimekuwa nikiketi hapa. Kuna nyimbo moja imekuwa ikichezwa kichwani,” she said amid cheers from the crowd.

“Hii nyimbo iliandikwa na msanii mwingine alikuwa anaitwa E-Sir, marehemu. Kijana yetu ya South C hapa. Na hiyo nyimbo ilikuwa inaitwa, Hamnitishi. Na alianza hiyo nyimbo na methali. Akasema hivi, ‘vitisho vya peni mbili vitanifanya mimi nini.’ Hamnitishi! Hamnibabaisha,” Winnie added.

Calling Out Opportunists

Winnie criticized opportunistic members seeking to seize control of ODM in the wake of Raila Odinga’s passing.

“On this journey, we were passengers, and Baba was the driver. One day, we woke up and were shocked. The driver had died. Slowly, some people moved to the front, grabbed the steering wheel, and pulled it in different directions,” she said.

“They pushed us, passengers, to the back. They forgot Baba died only yesterday. Why the rush? Stop the bus. Let us talk. Let us decide together and move forward.”

She also highlighted that not everyone who claimed to support Raila was genuine.

“We see that not everyone among us who believed in Baba was true. Some were just using him,” she stated.

Family Remains Neutral

Winnie assured the public that the Odinga family is staying neutral amid factional disputes.

“As a family, we are not in either faction. We are Team Baba,” she said, calling on party members to show patience ahead of the National Delegates Congress (NDC), which she predicted would be heated.

She dismissed claims by some leaders that they were acting on instructions left by Raila. “Those who are saying Baba said this or that are not well mannered,” she said, adding that she rejects any effort to chase out members with differing opinions.

“As the lastborn, when you see things go wrong, lazima uchome. I have come kuchoma,” Winnie told supporters, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Emotional Return to Kibra

Winnie began the day with a heartfelt address at ACK Holy Trinity Parish in Makina, Kibra, apologizing for her delayed return to the community after her father’s death.

“Today, we have come back home. This is a place we have come all our lives. I would like to apologise for taking so long to come back. I was a bit troubled. I didn’t know how to come back to Kibra without Baba, I didn’t know how to talk to you, I thought I’d cry,” she said.

Her brother, Raila Odinga Junior, and Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto joined her at the service. After the church event, Winnie and her team proceeded to Kamukunji Grounds, where she addressed thousands of party supporters, reiterating her call for unity and patience as ODM navigates a new era without its founding leader.