The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal directed that the complaint challenging the purported elevation of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga to the position of “Nairobi’s number-one party delegate” be served upon the respondents, with the matter set for further directions on March 25.
In directions issued on Tuesday, Presiding Member Gad Gathu Kiragu ordered that the Complaint and Notice of Motion application dated March 23, be served upon the respondents, who are at liberty to file their responses.
The tribunal has listed the matter for directions on March 25, at 2:30 pm.
The matter was filed by Evans Otieno Amuga, an ODM member from Kibra Constituency, who is seeking to nullify what he terms as the irregular “elevation” of Winnie Odinga during a meeting convened by Makadara MP George Aladwa on March 17, at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Upper Hill.
In his complaint, Amuga argues that the ODM Party Constitution does not create or recognise any position known as “Nairobi’s number-one party delegate” or “lead delegate” for any county, making the purported elevation a constitutional nullity.
“The purported ‘elevation’ of the 2nd Respondent to this non-existent position is therefore a nullity, as one cannot be appointed to a position that does not exist in the Party’s constitutional framework,” the complaint stated.
The complainant further contended that the endorsement of Winnie Odinga for Deputy Party Leader at the county-level meeting usurps the exclusive constitutional mandate of the National Delegates Conference, which under Article 6.2.2 of the ODM Party Constitution is the only body empowered to elect National Officials.
Amuga has sued the Orange Democratic Movement , Winnie Odinga, George Aladwa and the Registrar of Political Parties.
Through a Certificate of Urgency , Amuga sought interim conservatory orders restraining ODM from recognising, giving effect to, or acting upon the purported “elevation” of Winnie Odinga, and from giving her any preferential treatment at the upcoming Special Delegates Convention based on the March 17 endorsement.
The complainant alleged that his prayers do not seek to exclude Winnie Odinga from attending the Special Delegates Convention as a delegate, acknowledging that as an EALA MP, she qualifies as a delegate by virtue of her membership in the Party Parliamentary Group under Articles 7.2.2A(2) and 7.7.1(d) of the ODM Party Constitution.
In his supporting affidavit, Amuga also raised concerns about what he describes as an “unconstitutional precedent of dynastic succession,” arguing that the attempt to transfer a purported leadership position from the late Raila Odinga to his daughter violates democratic principles enshrined in the Party Constitution and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
Media reports attached to the court documents show that during the March 17 meeting, Aladwa told delegates from Nairobi’s 17 constituencies that the city had lacked a clear representative at the party’s upper decision-making levels since Raila Odinga’s passing in October 2025.
The Makadara MP further argued that Winnie Odinga’s position in the East African Legislative Assembly and her involvement in party activities made her well-suited to take up the influential position, adding that the city’s leaders had unanimously resolved to front her as their preferred candidate for Deputy Party Leader.
ODM currently has three deputy party leaders who were in office at the time of Raila Odinga’s death, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nasir, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
