Kibra MP aspirant Raila Junior has urged Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members unhappy with the party’s direction to stay put and resolve their differences from within rather than walk away.
Junior said internal disagreements should not drive members out of the party his late father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, spent decades building, calling for dialogue, unity and reconciliation as the movement navigates life without its founding leader.
“One thing I want to emphasise is that whenever a problem arises within the party, the solution is not to quit. Instead, members should remain within the party, resolve their differences and move forward together,” he said.
He spoke in Garissa during ODM’s nationwide Mwezi wa Baba initiative, which brings together party members to honour Raila’s legacy and reflect on the movement’s future.
Junior’s appeal comes as ODM grapples with disagreements over leadership, political alliances and its relationship with President William Ruto’s administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The differences have exposed competing views among leaders and supporters over the party’s participation in the broad-based government arrangement, with some members distancing themselves from its current political direction.
Junior urged members to resist divisions that could weaken the party, saying ODM should remain a platform capable of accommodating different opinions while bringing Kenyans together.
He also challenged aspiring candidates to join the movement, rejecting the perception that it belongs exclusively to the Luo community.
“My appeal to aspirants seeking different elective positions is to join this party because ODM does not belong to the Luo community alone. It belongs to all of us. Baba built a strong political party that accommodated all Kenyans, regardless of their religion, tribe or race,” he said.
The former Prime Minister’s son thanked supporters who stood by his father throughout his political career, saying their loyalty helped sustain a movement that brought together people from different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds.
Raila’s death in October 2025 left ODM facing the challenge of preserving his political legacy while establishing its direction under a new leadership arrangement.
Junior has declared his intention to contest the Kibra parliamentary seat in Nairobi, marking his entry into elective politics as he seeks to build his own political profile.
His political positioning has also attracted attention because of his support for Ruto’s re-election, an issue that has exposed divisions within ODM over cooperation with the government.
While some party leaders have defended the arrangement, others have expressed reservations about the direction of the partnership as the 2027 elections approach.
Junior’s plans are unfolding alongside those of his sister, Winnie Odinga, who has declared her intention to contest the Nairobi Senate seat. She has not publicly declared support for Ruto’s re-election.
As ODM continues its Mwezi wa Baba activities, the party faces the task of turning tributes to its late leader into renewed unity and a clear political strategy ahead of the next General Election.
