Kilifi Senator and Leader of Minority party in the Senate Stewart Madzayo in Kilifi town on Sunday, February, 22, 2026. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti
Stewart Madzayo has dismissed reports of deep divisions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), describing the current disagreements as mere ideological differences that will be resolved through dialogue.
Speaking in Kilifi, the Kilifi Senator, who also serves as the Senate Minority Leader, maintained that ODM remains the strongest and most popular political party in the country despite internal contestations.
Madzayo said party members would ultimately engage in talks to iron out their differences, adding that the broad-based political arrangement had failed to implement any of the issues contained in the ten-point agenda proposed by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
“I am quite disappointed that none of the issues in the ten-point agenda has been implemented. What we are witnessing instead is continued violation of the Constitution and state-induced violence against Kenyans holding divergent views,” he said.
He urged William Ruto to take note of the prevailing situation in the country and respond to the concerns of citizens.
“I call on the President to be cognizant of what is happening across the country and to read the mood of the people. Kenyans are hungry and angry at his administration,” Madzayo stated.
The Senator called for calm among citizens and encouraged dialogue, accusing the government of using intimidation tactics to frustrate emerging political formations.
“Currently, as you can see, we in ODM are divided into two camps. However, Baba advised us not to be divided but to sit down, talk and agree with one another — and that is what is going to happen. Members from both sides understand what they are doing, and at the right time, we shall all sit at one table,” he said.
Madzayo further assured legislators aligned to either ODM Linda Mwananchi or ODM Linda Ground factions that they would not face disciplinary action in the Senate.
“As the Leader of the Minority Party in the Senate, I will not be persuaded to remove any of my members from House committees or positions simply because they are expressing political ideologies that differ from others. What happens in the Senate is purely legislative, and my party leader is among my members in the Upper House,” he said.
He emphasized that the work of the Senate would continue uninterrupted despite the internal party debates.
