The moment happened during the commemoration of what would have been Raila Odinga’s 81st birthday.
Leaders, friends, and supporters visited the home to honor Raila’s long political journey and influence.
Raila left ODM in the broad-based government and in broad-based there are a few people who had an opportunity of being ministers, some who were left outside who were not mentioned, some might have been bitter. If Raila were living today, you would not have been hearing this noise here and there."
Atwoli's comments come amid heightened divisions in ODM following Raila Odinga's death in October 2025. Sifuna, the party's Secretary-General, has emerged as the most outspoken critic of the 2024 agreement that brought ODM ministers into Ruto's cabinet, repeatedly declaring the pact "dead" and opposing any endorsement of the President's 2027 re-election bid.
The trade unionist acknowledged the validity in arguments from both sides of the divide, particularly in the recent public spat between Sifuna and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed over alleged mismanagement of 2022 campaign funds.
"I can’t tell between Junet and Sifuna who is right and who is wrong, but when you listen to their arguments, both arguments are very convincing," Atwoli said, questioning the handling of funds reportedly provided by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Atwoli described ODM's current turmoil as "teething problems" in the absence of Raila, whom he called the "glue" that held the party together.
He expressed confidence in acting party leader Senator Oburu Oginga to navigate the challenges, stating earlier on the day of Raila's would-be 81st birthday: "ODM is feeling the pain of Raila’s absence, but it's safe in Oburu's hands."
The remarks follow a day of intense behind-the-scenes efforts to restore unity.
Oburu held private talks with Sifuna in Nairobi, hours after Migori Senator Eddy Oketch withdrew a petition seeking Sifuna's expulsion over alleged gross misconduct and defiance of party decisions on the broad-based arrangement.
The withdrawal paved the way for internal dialogue, with sources indicating intervention from Raila's widow, Ida Odinga, and the party's Board of Trustees helped avert a full-blown crisis.
Sifuna, who has faced ouster threats from a pro-government faction led by figures like Junet and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, paid tribute to Raila on his birthday, lamenting an emerging "culture of impunity, intolerance, dictatorship and a conspiracy of silence." He has signaled readiness for dialogue, responding positively to calls for unity.