Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Even before the grass has grown upon the grave of the late ODM party leader, Raila Amolo Odinga, his party is experiencing upheavals; public spats and deep rifts have appeared that threaten to tear the party asunder. RAO was a larger-than-life figure, the undisputed flag bearer of the party, and although he never wielded a “big stick” to maintain order and discipline within the party ranks, it was inconceivable that anyone would go against his wishes or contradict his words. Such was RAO’s influence in ODM strongholds throughout the country that an aspirant needed only his endorsement, and the electoral contest was settled. In elections held since Raila passed away, such as in Kasipul Kabondo, his name was mentioned more times than that of the contesting candidate. Although Raila had a national stature and had support from practically all of Kenya, in his native Luoland, he occupied the position of a messiah. He was the biblical Moses who was destined to lead the Luo people to the promised land – the presidency of Kenya. The Luo believed the presidency was their entitlement, something that had eluded the community through historical mischance. The hope of that dream being fulfilled resided in Raila. His death has had a cataclysmic impact on the ODM’s presidential ambitions and dealt a devastating blow to the Luo nation’s hope of ever securing the presidency. Samuel Atandi, member of parliament for Alego-Usonga and Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee of the National Assembly, says , “[I]n 2027 nobody from our community is going to run for president… One of us will run for president in 2032… so 2027 we are not going to run for president. Our community has had politicians who have been around since Jaramogi [Oginga Odinga] they were with Jaramogi when he was alive, they were trying to help Jaramogi become president, they failed. Then Raila Amolo adopted them, they tried to help Raila Amolo become president they also failed. Now that Raila Amolo Odinga has moved on, they still want to give us direction. I want to tell those politicians that your time is up. You will not give us direction… We are saying that for us going forward, our campaign and our pursuit is for a Luo to sit in State House…” The confusion in ODM and within sections of the Luo community is captured in Harlem , a poignant poem by Langston Hughes: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore… And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over… Like a syrupy sweet Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load Or does it explode ? Political pundits have already confined the ODM party to the graveyard as a result of the intra-party battles that have split ODM followers into three factions; one faction supports the newly minted ODM leadership led by Dr Oburu Oginga and Gladys Wanga, while the second faction aligns itself to those opposed to Oburu and who view him as a usurper. This faction gravitates around the embattled Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, who has the support of the ousted deputy party leader, Godfrey Osotsi, and members Babu Owino, Caleb Amisi, and party elder James Orengo. A third force within ODM are the moderates interested in brokering a rapprochement between the warring sides. This group is fronted by the likes of Ruth Odinga, Millie Odhiambo Mabona, and Otiende Amolo. The three factions are differentiated by their response to President Ruto’s political overtures to ODM. While the internal leadership turmoil is within its branches, structures and among its members nationwide, the epicentre of the ODM Tsunami is the Luo nation which has all along considered ODM as “ marwa ’, our own, built by “ wuodwa ”, our son, to bring “ loch ”, overlordship, to the Luo community, a thing that they consider to be their birthright. In the post-Raila period, some leaders have promoted the notion that ODM and the Luo nation are inseparable. Despite