‘Only a fool repeats same mistakes!’ – MP Caleb Amisi slams ODM over Ruto deal
Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has come out revealing how the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party was warned against joining the broad-based government under President William Ruto.
Speaking on Monday, November 17, 2025, in an interview with a local media house, the legislator revealed how the party was warned against broad-based government owing to past results of such arrangements.
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“We warned the ODM party about the broad-based government because only a fool repeats the same thing and expects different results,” Amisi said.
On his part, Amisi recalled that unlike the handshakes of former presidents, Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, the broad-based negotiation did not have structured negotiations.
“It is not the same as Kibaki’s coalition or Uhuru’s handshake, because those had structured negotiations,” Amisi said.
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Orengo’s remarks on broad-based
His remarks come after the Siaya Governor James Orengo dismissed what he said as “idiotic” push by ODM Cabinet ministers serving in President William Ruto’s government to craft a broad-based political alliance with the UDA leader, insisting the party will not negotiate with Ruto.
While addressing the party youths during a youth event of ODM’s anniversary celebrations in Mombasa on Friday, November 14,2025, Orengo warned that efforts by some leaders to steer the party toward a 2027 coalition with President Ruto’s administration were reckless and risked erasing ODM’s identity and history.
He argued that the proposals undermine the movement’s founding values and distort its mission.
“I dare say, Ruto needs ODM — not the other way round. Some people in the party are behaving as if ODM needs Ruto. I have nothing to fear,” he said.
At the time, Orengo challenged leaders, accusing them of attempting to drag the party into government through the back door, cautioning that such movements betray ODM’s principles.
“We won’t be a party of cowards. When ODM starts saying we will be in government or form the next government through deals, you must decide what you really want,” he said.
He went on to remind members that ODM was founded through struggle and sacrifice, not political bargaining meant to secure positions and proximity to power.
“ODM is a party of the people, by the people, for the people. If we forget the poor and the jobless, ODM will die,” he warned.
Likewise, Orengo called on youths to take a more assertive role in defending the party’s ideals. Orengo recalled his own early political activism.
“At 30, I brought a motion to impeach President Moi in the one-party era because we wanted accountable government,” he said.
