The Orange Democratic Movement suffered a stinging political blow after Lurambi Member of Parliament Titus Khamala formally defected to the ruling United Democratic Alliance on Sunday, dealing a fresh wound to an already fractured opposition party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Khamala, serving his second term in the National Assembly, announced his exit from ODM at his Shibuli residence following a four-hour deliberation with senior UDA figures from the Western region.
“I have today joined UDA from ODM. This is the beginning of my campaign for President Ruto in this region for the sake of development,” Khamala said. He was blunt about his reasoning. “I was elected on Musalia Mudavadi ANC in 2017. I shifted to ODM in 2022, hoping that the Azimio La Umoja coalition would form the next government but missed. I don’t want to miss again.”
“I don’t want to miss again.”
— Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, on his defection from ODM to UDA
Khamala was joined by teachers from Lurambi constituency who pledged to support Ruto re-election bid among their networks.
Khamala reception was led by Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, the deputy regional co-ordinator, alongside MPs Mary Emase of Teso South, Fred Ikana of Shinyalu, Kakai Bisau of Kiminini, and Vihiga Woman MP Beatrice Adagala — all part of a campaign team targeting over 2.6 million voters in the region.
Savula described Khamala as a “giraffe” capable of seeing where the future lies, and warned that more than 10 sitting MPs from various parties, including ODM, are preparing to defect to UDA. Adagala questioned the opposition credibility. “You cannot have an agenda called ‘Ruto must go’ and ‘one term.’ Where is the opposition shadow cabinet?”
Khamala departure comes as ODM is torn between two factions. One, led by Siaya Senator and party leader Oburu Odinga, backs Ruto re-election. The other, led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, is pushing toward a united opposition front.
The divide has paralyzed ODM messaging and weakened its grip on Western Kenya, where UDA is now aggressively courting legislators and grassroots voters alike.
