ODM leader urges unity as 2027 election looms
At a memorial service in Awendo Sub-County, Migori County, for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, acting Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga delivered a rallying call to party members to strengthen their ranks ahead of the 2027 general election. He stressed that the party’s future bargaining power hinges on solidarity, declaring: As a beautiful lady, everyone will want to court us. If we are not strong, nobody will want to talk to us.
Oginga emphasised that every supporter should register both as a party member and a voter, underscoring the importance of organised grassroots mobilisation.
He chose to speak in Migori, citing the region’s deep connection with Raila Odinga and its symbolic significance within the party’s traditional stronghold.
Key figures present included ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed — all signalling a united front at the gathering.
In response, party officials pledged to uphold the legacy of Odinga and preserve ODM’s status as a national force. Wanga affirmed the commitment to a cohesive, vibrant party able to negotiate from strength. Ayacko echoed the sentiment, noting the importance of staying loyal to existing alliances rather than seeking uncertain new partners.
Analysts say the call for unity comes at a pivotal moment, as internal rifts and generational shifts threaten to erode ODM’s dominance if left unaddressed.
Looking ahead, ODM faces the twin tasks of consolidating internal cohesion and translating that unity into a credible platform for 2027. The party must not only retain its traditional base in Nyanza but expand its appeal nationally, while defining a clear agenda beyond symbolic gestures of solidarity. Oginga’s push for party registration signals an early mobilization effort, but the real test will be whether ODM can convert unity into electoral momentum as Kenya’s political landscape shifts.