President William Ruto alongside Deputy president Kithure Kindiki and ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir during a title deed issuance event in Mombasa on May 21, 2026/ HANDOUTODM deputy leader Abdulswamad Nassir has slammed internal critics of the party's partnership with the ruling UDA, accusing them of betraying Raila Odinga's political ideals.
Speaking during title deed issuance in Mombasa on Thursday, the ODM deputy party leader defended the broad-based cooperation, saying it was founded on shared reform goals, particularly land reforms that had formed part of Raila’s long political struggle.
Nassir said the partnership between the two parties was aimed at solving long-standing problems affecting ordinary Kenyans rather than advancing political interests.
“In Raila Odinga’s manifesto, land reforms were clearly part of the agenda. In your manifesto, land reforms were also included. Today, despite our colours being orange and yellow, we have united to find solutions for our people,” Nassir said.
The governor took direct aim at leaders criticising the arrangement, accusing them of distorting Raila’s legacy while ignoring the issues he fought for over decades.
“Those calling others betrayers are the real betrayers of Raila Odinga’s cause,” Nassir said.
He said Raila endured detention, political persecution and personal sacrifices while fighting for reforms, including land rights and social justice.
“Raila shed blood, shed tears and even went to jail because of the struggle for land justice and the rights of Kenyans,” he said.
Nassir also praised President William Ruto for implementing some of the reforms that ODM had pushed for while in opposition.
“Today it is President William Ruto who is delivering on promises that Raila Odinga fought for and sacrificed his political comfort to pursue,” he said.
The remarks come amid deepening divisions within ODM over the party’s working relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration under the broad-based government arrangement.
The divisions have largely split the party into two informal camps the “Linda Ground” faction that supports engagement with government and the “Linda Mwananchi” wing that insists ODM should remain firmly in opposition.
Leaders allied to the pro-engagement camp have argued that working with the government has accelerated development projects and allowed ODM to push reforms from within.
They have particularly cited cooperation on land reforms, economic recovery programmes and infrastructure development.
However, critics within the party have warned that the arrangement risks weakening ODM’s identity as an opposition movement and could dilute accountability against the government.
The dispute has played out publicly in recent months, with rival camps exchanging accusations over the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Some ODM leaders opposed to the arrangement have accused sections of the party leadership of abandoning the opposition’s watchdog role, while supporters of the deal argue that Raila has historically embraced dialogue and bipartisan engagement to secure reforms.
Nassir appeared to lean heavily on that argument, saying the focus should remain on solving citizens’ problems instead of sustaining political hostility.
He also urged leaders not to forget the historical struggles behind land reforms at the Coast, where thousands of residents have lived for years without ownership documents due to unresolved adjudication disputes, absentee landlords and historical injustices.
Land ownership remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in the Coast region and has featured prominently in ODM’s campaigns over the years.
The latest title deed issuance programme forms part of
ongoing government efforts to address historical land grievances even as
political cooperation between former rivals continues to reshape the country’s
political landscape.
