Nairobi — A hint of possible split in ODM was raised at the weekend, with fingers pointing at a likely breakaway of MPs from the Rift Valley.

Nominated MP Musa Sirma, who brought to the open the issue, accused some Rift Valley lawmakers of plotting to ditch the Orange party for PNU.

ODM leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, spoke of ripples within their ranks, but quickly stated that the party would overcome the problems.

Describing the unnamed MPs as a minority, Mr Sirma said "some of us are facing Mount Kenya and they are eating and dining with them. We know them, but we are asking them to respect our party leader instead of criticising him".

Speaking in Nyanza, Mr Sirma claimed that the said MPs were responsible for creating misunderstandings in ODM with an intention to divide the party's top leaders and then deliver the presidency to "enemies of ODM" in 2012.

The alleged traitors, he claimed, had been "bought" to criticise Prime Minister Raila Odinga by leaking out secrets of ODM to rival parties.

"We are playing into the enemy trap by criticising Raila... what we do not know is that we are weakening him," he warned.

But MPs Isaac Ruto and Luka Kigen dismissed Mr Sirma's claims and declared that they had no intentions of joining PNU.

They accused the nominated MP of pursuing personal interests at the detriment of party unity.

Said Mr Ruto: "He is only nominated and does not speak for the electorate. He is vilifying and demonising Rift Valley MPs as being against the party. We are in ODM... not by invitation. Sirma has never consulted us."

Mr Kigen said Mr Sirma thrived by portraying Rift Valley MPs as being against ODM in the hope of being awarded a big post. He said ODM deputy party leader William Ruto's assertion last week that Rift Valley residents did not negotiate with the party before joining it did not necessarily mean that they will decamp ahead of 2012 elections.

Mr Sirma was speaking during the burial of Absalom Ouya, a former political activist in Kabonyo, Nyando District.

His statements rekindled the differences between Rift Valley MPs and Mr Odinga early this year.

The MPs, who are close allies of Mr Ruto, the Agriculture minister, had then accused the PM of failing to reward their region with adequate jobs and pushing for the eviction people who have settled in Mau Forest.

Speaking during the same funeral, Lands minister James Orengo called for unity among supporters of ODM suggesting that the party still had a long way to go in its march to State House in 2012.

Among those present were assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny, MPs Pollyns Ochieng' (Nyakach), Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central), Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West) and Fred Outa (Nyando).

Differences in ODM, Mr Outa said, were "small waves" which will not affect the popularity of the party in 2012.

Speaking at a separate function in Kisumu, Mr Mudavadi warned party members against allowing themselves to be misled to ditch the party.

"Though ODM is the largest party in the country, unity is important and we should not undermine it," he said.

The Lands minister later led a team of MPs and party activists that included former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and Mr Sirma to Kericho in what he termed "seeking unity among ODM supporters".

Mr Sirma sprung to the defence of Mr Odinga against criticisms that he has neglected the Rift Valley in allocating positions in the government saying that the PM is a nationalist who must serve the interests of the entire nation.

"We understand that people in Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western and every other part of the country expected a lot from him (Mr Odinga), but he is trying to meet these expectations," said Mr Sirma.

But Mr Ruto hinted at Rift Valley MPs being unhappy in ODM when he said that they had several options including the United Democratic Movement chaired retired Lt Gen John Koech.

He said they had "several" options if things did not go well in ODM.

Mr Ruto said the party Rift Valley residents will support in 2012 was not a priority at the moment.