ODM at 20: Billow Kerrow Recalls 'Chungwa' Victory That Birthed Party

By Hassan Wekesa - Editor

Kenya, 15 November 2025 - As the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders and members commemorate 20 years since its emergence from the heated 2005 constitutional referendum, long-time politician and former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow has opened up about the party's origins.

Mr Kerrow, who also served as Mandera Central MP, said on Saturday that in 2005, he campaigned vigorously for the ‘Chungwa’ Orange – NO – team that was against President Mwai Kibaki's draft constitution.

During the referendum, Kibaki’s ‘Banana’ Team lost as the draft constitution was shot down by the voters.

With the festivities building towards their peak this Sunday, Kerrow's thoughts come at a time when ODM is grappling with the recent passing of its legendary figurehead, former prime minister Raila Odinga, who died at 80 on 15 October 2025.

The ongoing events in Mombasa blend joy with heartache.

Odinga, fondly called "Baba" by many, suffered a cardiac arrest while in India, creating a significant gap in the nation's opposition landscape.

As a relentless five-time presidential hopeful and a fierce advocate for multi-party politics, his influence hangs over the proceedings.

The highlight will be a special dinner for the founders, with President William Ruto expected to join.

Dr Ruto, who is the current party leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), was part of ODM’s powerhouse "Pentagon" team alongside Najib Balala, Musalia Mudavadi, the late Joe Nyagah, and Odinga himself.

In a heartfelt message laced with fond recollections, Kerrow delved into how ODM took shape after the 2005 vote that rejected Kibaki's draft constitution.

"I ran the Chungwa 'No' campaign which won and from which ODM was founded," Kerrow said.

The Chungwa triumph in the referendum, that surprised the government machinery that supported draft constitution under the Banana banner, sparked a wave of opposition energy and birthed ODM as a force for change.

Kerrow's personal story is woven right into that history. Fast forward to 2007, when Uhuru Kenyatta, then KANU's chair, switched sides to Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) alliance; Kerrow stepped down as KANU treasurer and jumped ship to ODM.

He quickly rose to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

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And he teamed up with Dr Julia Ojiambo and the late Mutula Kilonzo to rally key players, forming what became the Pentagon.

"We got the ball rolling and united the big names in ODM, which evolved into the Pentagon," he explained, pointing out how that unity boosted Odinga's presidential bids.

He noted that at the time, ODM had special programmes for the people in the then North Eastern Province, and that is why the National Muslim Leaders Forum, including those from the region, considered the party a friendly outfit and Odinga a symbol of fair and all-embracing governance.

According to Kerrow, Odinga and the ODM party in the build-up to the 2007 presidential election had clearly stated their agenda, and that it touched on the real challenges the people from North Eastern were facing at the time.

“The past governments have not really come out clearly to assist the development of the regions in which we live and have also, to a large extent, neglected the people who live in these regions. And more importantly, the last few years in particular, the government has been criticised strongly by the leaders of harassment, of punishing the Muslims for a number of reasons that are not acceptable,” he said then.

Kerrow said ODM’s knack for bridging ethnic and religious divides was evident.

"Good to see ODM mark its 20 years," Kerrow wrote via X, offering some comfort to a party in mourning.

Still, these ODM at 20 celebrations underline the work that is left undone, especially at this transition period, where there are at least two factions: those in ODM fully behind President Ruto’s broad-based government, and those of the view that the party should have its own presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.

Without Odinga, figures like Kerrow are calling on the party to stay true to his ideals of fairness and equality.

With Mombasa alive with supporters in orange outfits, Sunday's climax isn't just about looking back—it's a chance to reignite the spark of democracy that ODM first kindled 20 years ago.

On Friday, [Raila] Odinga’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, who is a Member of Parliament in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), stated that they are aware of underhand deals to sell the ODM party.

Winnie said that would not happen, warning: “We are fully aware that some people walk with us during the day, but at night they attempt to sell the party.”

On Thursday, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga was confirmed as the new party leader.