Millie Odhiambo booed for calling out disrespect among ODM supporters

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo clashed with a section of ODM party members during a leadership meeting in Kisumu on Saturday, January 24, accusing the hecklers of disrespecting the Odinga family. Odhiambo urged ODM supporters to stop heckling members of Raila Odinga’s family, including his widow, Ida Odinga, and daughter, Winnie Odinga. The reference to Winnie Odinga didn’t go well with attendees of the Lake Region Community Dialogue organized by ODM party leader Oburu Oginga. The crowd repeatedly interrupted Millie Odhiambo but she stood firm. The MP said her respect for Oburu came not only from his position as acting party leader, but also from his relationship with the late Raila Odinga. “The respect I give Oburu as party leader is because I know him as a person, and also because of Raila Odinga. He is Raila’s brother,” she said. “In the same vein, I respect Ida and Winnie Odinga. I will not disrespect them, even if you heckle me or refuse that,” she said. Millie Odhiambo’s apparent support for Winnie triggered louder heckling from sections of the audience. The lawmaker noted that Winnie was young and open to guidance, urging party supporters to correct her respectfully rather than attack her publicly. “Winnie is a small child. If you see her going wrong, you tell her, ‘Follow this way,’ and you correct her,” she said. Winnie recently clashed with her uncle Oburu Oginga. She has called for party’s National Delegates Conference to discuss leadership and continued support for the broad-based government of President William Ruto.