One year following the death of Raila Odinga, the political movement he spearheaded for decades, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is reportedly struggling to define its future trajectory. A bitter dispute within the party regarding cooperation with the administration of President William Ruto has allegedly exposed profound divisions concerning its identity and political independence. Observers note that this ongoing struggle raises broader concerns about whether the country's opposition can remain a credible force in the absence of the dominant figure who traditionally held it together.
Odinga's decades-long career was defined by campaigns for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, and social justice. However, the current turbulence within his party supposedly reveals the fragility of political movements built primarily around a single charismatic leader. The epicenter of the current conflict is ODM's relationship with the Ruto regime. The removal of Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, who openly opposed closer alignment with the president, has reportedly become a critical flashpoint in the broader contest over the party's strategic direction and autonomy.
Political analyst Professor Herman Manyora claims that Odinga's departure has left an insurmountable vacuum that the fragmented opposition has failed to address. According to his assertions, the movement inherited a legacy without automatically securing the personal authority required to bridge competing factions. Furthermore, Odinga's controversial decision to cooperate with Ruto in 2024—amid nationwide youth-led protests against taxation and governance—is viewed by many younger Kenyans as a profound betrayal of the resistance ideals he long championed.
Current party leadership attempts to defend the alliance by pointing to formal agreements and pragmatic governance goals rather than blind loyalty. Nevertheless, critics argue that the partnership risks absorbing the opposition into the very establishment it was created to hold accountable. Ultimately, the test of Odinga's legacy will depend on whether the ODM can successfully deliver tangible reforms for citizens while retaining the independent capacity to challenge the ruling regime.
Source: www.aljazeera.com