After Raila: Can ODM Hold Together Through the Power Struggles?

ODM has reached a delicate turning point since Raila Odinga's death in October 2025. For many years, the party served as the strongest opposition voice in Kenya and a haven for those who supported equality, inclusivity, and grassroots activism. However, ODM is currently having trouble defining its values and allies.

In November, the party did indeed celebrate significant by-election victories in places like Kasipul and Ugunja. 

These successes demonstrate the brand's continued strength, but they also conceal more serious problems that are unavoidable. 

Although ODM isn't collapsing, it is obviously drifting, and it needs guidance before losing the fundamental identity that has sustained it for twenty years.

The balance between activism and collaboration with the government is one of the main points of contention. A shared reform agenda resulted from Raila and President Ruto's 2024 handshake; however, some of the promises made, ranging from economic fairness to electoral justice, have only been partially fulfilled. 

Some leaders, like Governor James Orengo, worry that the party is straying from its roots in street fighting, while others, like Junet Mohamed, support the advancements. 

Calls for ODM to resume public pressure and activism have only grown since blogger Albert Ojwang's passing earlier this year.

Another unsolved conflict is leadership. Sharp generational and regional tensions have resulted from questions about who should lead the party after Raila. 

Oburu Oginga, Winnie Odinga, Gladys Wanga, Junet Mohamed, and Rachael Tabitha Machoka have all encountered demands for accountability, constitutional disputes, and loyalty tests.

In the future, ODM needs to resolve its internal leadership, restore confidence, and make its 2027 plan clear. 

How openly the party addresses these issues in the upcoming year will determine whether it reinvents itself or gradually deteriorates.