A Nation in Mourning: Kenya Bids Farewell to Raila Odinga as ODM Leaders Reaffirm Unity

In a defining moment for Kenya’s political future, senior leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) publicly reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the party’s unity and legacy, even in the absence of its founding figure, Raila Odinga.

The leaders, during the burial of Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County, said they will stand united, and promised unwavering support to President William Ruto, whom together with the fallen hero, formed a broad-based government.

Framing ODM not merely as a political vehicle, but as a symbol of Kenya’s hard-won democratic gains, the leaders vowed to ensure that the party's voyage continues — grounded in the ideals of justice, inclusion, and national unity.

Amid this resolve, Siaya Governor James Orengo issued a poignant appeal against the erosion of political parties, warning against repeating the mistakes of the post-independence era when Kenya slid into one-party rule.

His remarks, delivered with the weight of history, reinforced the broader message...that ODM is not just mourning its leader, but defending a democratic legacy.

In unity, the party’s leadership emphasized that Odinga’s vision must endure — and with it, the democratic space that ODM has long fought to protect.

"Let us not kill political parties, but nurture them into fruition," Governor Orengo said.

He said political parties were the vehicles for democracy.

ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Governor), Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, and key deputies including Governors Simba Arati (Kisii), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), and Geoffrey Osotsi reaffirmed their commitment to Odinga’s ideals.

They underscored a historical continuum that began long before ODM's formation — one rooted in Kenya’s broader political evolution since independence in 1963.

Kenya’s journey towards democracy began with the promise of a multiparty system in 1963, but that hope was quickly curtailed.

Following independence, the Kenya African National Union (KANU) consolidated power, leading to the eventual declaration of a de facto one-party state by 1969 and a de jure one-party system in 1982.

During this period, dissent was criminalised, opposition leaders jailed, and civil liberties stifled.

The brutal suppression of political pluralism ignited an underground movement that eventually culminated in the democratic reforms of the early 1990s.

Through persistent pressure from civil society, church leaders, and political dissidents — among them Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila Odinga’s father — Kenya repealed Section 2A of the Constitution in 1991, thus reintroducing multiparty politics.

This marked a critical turning point in Kenya’s democratic journey.

Odinga, having joined the political scene in the early 1990s, quickly emerged as a leading reformist figure.

His participation in the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) and later in the National Development Party (NDP) symbolised the hunger for real political alternatives.

Eventually, Odinga would become a key player in the formation of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which unseated KANU in 2002 and ushered in a new era of democratic optimism.

However, it was with the formation of ODM during the 2005 constitutional referendum fallout that Odinga’s political identity crystallized.

ODM quickly became the face of resistance to elite manipulation and centralised power. Its rallying cry of “democracy, justice, and inclusion”drew widespread support from Kenya’s diverse ethnic and social constituencies.

As was evident from the speeches delivered at the recent ODM event, Raila’s political legacy is inextricably linked with the fight for a democratic Kenya.

Governor Arati’s assertion that “the quest for the democratic movement that Odinga so cherished has just started” echoed the resilience of a party determined to honour the past while embracing the future.

The emotional invocations of iconic songs like “Vijana msilale bado mapambano,” made famous by the late Senator Otieno Kajwang’ from Homa Bay, reminded the youths of their enduring role in defending democratic gains.

Sifuna’s remarks about keeping the “lights glowing” in ODM stressed the need for continuity in political organisation, while Governor Nassir’s commitment to the Broad-Based Government initiative signaled a shift towards coalition governance and pragmatic politics.

The Post-Raila Era: Unity Amid Transition

ODM's current leadership, especially from Nyanza — including Oburu Oginga, James Orengo, Anyang’ Nyong’o, and Ochilo Ayacko — made a public plea for unity and continued commitment to party ideals.

Their call mirrors a broader historical fear: the weakening or collapse of political parties following the departure of charismatic leaders.

Senior Counsel Orengo, a longtime comrade of Odinga, warned against complacency, noting that “in 1963, political parties were killed and it took us many years to build new ones.”

He urged Kenyans not to forget that political parties remain vital vehicles for democratic expression, representation, and accountability.

Orengo’s metaphor-laced tribute to Odinga— referencing the 2018 mock swearing-in as “People’s President” — reinforced the narrative of defiance, sacrifice, and symbolic resistance that has shaped Kenya’s multiparty era.

The gathering’s political significance extended beyond the ODM faithful. With President Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo in attendance, the event morphed into a national and international tribute to a man seen as a cornerstone of African democratic advocacy.

In recognizing Odinga’s impact, the Council of Governors Chairperson emphasized that the former premier stood for peace, inclusion, and unity — values that should guide ODM’s future.

The party’s renewed commitment to “unity in diversity” echoes the principles enshrined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, itself a product of decades of struggle led by Odinga and others.

As the ODM leadership transitions into the post-Raila era, the challenge is dual: to uphold the democratic ideals he championed, and to reposition the party in a changing political environment.

Governor Nassir’s declaration that ODM will not be in opposition in 2027 “in honour of Odinga” hints at a political realignment, possibly marking the end of opposition politics as previously defined.

Yet, as Kenya’s history shows, the health of democracy depends not only on who holds power, but on the strength, independence, and credibility of opposition voices.

Whether inside or outside government, ODM must guard against complacency and co-option if it is to remain a champion of democratic accountability.

The ODM gathering in honour of Raila Odinga was more than a eulogy — it was a reawakening.

It reaffirmed Kenya’s long, painful, but proud journey towards multiparty democracy.

From the dark days of one-party authoritarianism to the vibrant, if messy, democratic present, Odinga’s life stood as a bridge across eras.

As his political heirs carry the torch forward, the task ahead is clear: defend the gains of the past, remain grounded in people-centered ideals, and ensure that the legacy of democratic struggle does not fade — but grows, matures, and adapts to the demands of a new generation.