'We're willing to die for our country!' Orengo tells off police after attempt to stop Linda Mwananchi NDC

The leaders, who managed to breach a police barricade and access the venue, became disgruntled after officers attempted to disrupt the planned gathering moments after it had begun. 

Amid the standoff, Siaya Governor James Orengo reprimanded the officers, warning them against blocking the gathering.

"If there's a day we're willing to die for our country, it's today. Don't try anything stupid, usilete upumbavu, tumechoka na nyinyi. Kasongo aende ama asiende. Sisi ni Wantam," Orengo stated.

Orengo further questioned why police were attempting to prevent what he described as a properly constituted meeting, noting that party delegates were already present.

"This meeting is properly constituted, the SG ni nani? Sifuna yuko ama hayuko? Deputy Party leader Osotsi yuko ama hayuko? Babu Owino yuko ama hayuko?" he posed.

On his part, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the parallel meeting was convened to expose individuals allegedly seeking to auction the party to President William Ruto.

He questioned the speed at which Dr. Oburu Oginga was installed as party leader following the death of his brother and longterm ODM boss Raila Odinga, in India.

"Huu ndo mkutano tumeandaa ili kuweka wazi kwamba chama chetu ODM kiko hatari sana. Wakora wameingia kwa chama," he stated.

"Tuliwaambia sisi tunataka kufanya NDC ambayo kila mtu anaenda kwa debe kuchagua viongozi wake. Ilinivunja moyo sana wakati ambayo mlinituma niende nichukue Raila kutoka India, wakora wanakaa mahali, ata Baba hajafika Kenya, tayari wamepanga vile watatachukua nafasi yake."

He added: "Nikafika Kenya wakasema Oburu ndiyo party leader, nani amesema? Nyinyi mlichagua Oburu? Nani alisema?"

Sifuna added that the ideals of ODM under Raila would not align with those of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), pointing to repeated police interference in their meetings.

"Haiwezekani chama cha ODM isupport mtu ambaye anaweka polisi kuharibu mkutano huu," he said.

The meeting comes as ODM's Linda Ground faction holds its own Special Delegates Convention (SDC) at Jamhuri Grounds to ratify decisions made during the National Executive Council (NEC).