Madzayo urges ODM to resolve internal disputes to protect Raila’s legacy

Senate Minority Leader and Kilifi County Senator Stewart Madzayo has called for a candid internal dialogue within the ODM party to address the ongoing disagreements that have disrupted the party.

Madzayo warned that failure to act could tarnish the party’s image, weaken its cohesion, and create space for intolerance and political violence.

“Unless urgent action is taken, we risk heading into 2027 with heightened tensions, intolerance and violence that could undermine free and fair elections,” he said.

Madzayo, whose remarks come barely three months after the passing of ODM leader Raila Odinga, said the disputes threaten to erode the legacy of the late leader, whose vision and restraint kept the party united for over 20 years.

“ODM is bigger than any individual. Baba Raila supported dissent and debate, but he never allowed disagreement to break the party. We owe him the respect of maintaining the culture of dialogue and internal resolution he built,” Madzayo said.

The Kilifi Senator who was addressing the press in Nairobi emphasised that public spats, particularly among senior party officials, are eroding public trust and harming ODM’s dominance in key regions.

He urged party members to channel grievances through established structures rather than resorting to expulsion, public insults or threats as such was not the answer.

Madzayo said the party must reinforce its organs, uphold discipline, and recommit to internal democracy to ensure that ODM remains a progressive, inclusive, and principled movement.

“Unchecked public exchanges, mudslinging and verbal slurs are weakening cohesion and creating space for violence. The greatest honour we can give Baba Raila is to protect his legacy, not tear it down,” he said.

“ODM was never built to silence voices. It has the widest national footprint, the deepest grassroots structures, and the most consistent electoral base across multiple regions. When ODM speaks, the country listens, and when it stumbles, the impact is felt nationally. That stature comes with responsibility,” he said.

The Kilifi Senator further emphasised that the greatest tribute to the late Raila is to protect his legacy by reinforcing the principles of dialogue, tolerance, and internal democracy, rather than allowing personal disagreements to divide the party.

He urged all ODM members to embrace open, honest, and mature engagement within party structures, ensuring grievances are addressed constructively rather than weaponised publicly.

According to Madzayo, such an approach will help the party maintain its cohesion, strengthen its national influence, and safeguard Kenya’s democratic process.