The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has backed a plan to erect a monument honoring veteran opposition figure Raila Amollo Odinga in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
In a Friday statement dated June 26, the party supported a motion introduced in the Nairobi County Assembly by MCA Rex Omolleh, West Nairobi, which seeks to recognize Odinga’s contributions to Kenya’s democratic progress, governance reforms, and infrastructure growth.
ODM called the proposal a welcome initiative that deserves public backing, citing Kenya’s long history of celebrating individuals who have served the nation’s development and public service.
The party appealed to the tradition of honouring distinguished citizens through medals, titles, road naming, and public monuments, practices that were carried from national governance to the county administrations.
While the initial motion suggested the monument be placed within Uhuru Park, ODM now proposes an amendment to locate it at the Supreme Court roundabout instead.
The proposed design, outlined with the motion, shows the monument positioned outside the Supreme Court of Kenya, a placement that could symbolize Odinga’s enduring political and legal struggle for democracy, constitutionalism, and electoral justice.
The artist’s rendering appears to feature a copper-tinted structure with a large sculpted figure of Odinga mounted on a raised platform.
Below the statue, the inscription reads “Raila Odinga” and lists the years 1945-2025, framing his lifespan as a period of national political and democratic contribution.
The monument also bears the words “A Tribute to Democracy” alongside one of Odinga’s well-known quotations: “It is the people who must make their own decisions about their future.”
Given Odinga’s role as both a political leader and a symbol of the country’s democratic struggle, the Supreme Court-centric design is intended to reinforce themes of justice, constitutional order, and rule of law.
The party emphasized its commitment to expanding democratic freedom, sound governance, the rule of law, and economic reform, even under challenging political conditions, including nearly a decade of detention without trial.
Further, the party argued that positioning the monument at the Supreme Court would better honor Odinga’s influence on Kenya’s democratic journey and his lasting impact on the nation’s political landscape.