ODM@20: The untold story of Jane Wangui; the woman who helped birth ODM

Currently serving as Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Markets and Trade Jane Wangui stands as one of the unsung architects of Kenya’s most influential political movement. Her journey, from the slums of Dandora to the heart of Kenya’s opposition politics, is one of resilience, conviction, and a relentless belief in justice.

“I grew up seeing inequality all around me;  poor roads, lack of food, education, and health services. That drove me to want to bring change through governance,” Wangui recalls.

From Dandora to the Dream of Change

In 2005, driven by youthful zeal and guided by a vision for justice and equality, Wangui joined hands with lawyer Mugambi Imanyara to register a new political movement, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Her mission was simple yet bold: to create a platform for ordinary Kenyans, especially the young and marginalised, to participate in leadership.

“I gave birth to a new political force, and Raila gave it life, soon reshaping Kenya’s political landscape,” she says.

Wangui was not only a founding member but also became ODM’s first Secretary General, a role that placed her at the center of a transformative moment in Kenya’s democratic journey.

The Night Raila Knocked on My Door

As the 2005 constitutional referendum divided the nation into the “Orange” and “Banana” camps, Raila Odinga, already a political heavyweight, sought to align his movement with the emerging Orange wave.

“One evening, an acquaintance called and told me he was outside my door and wanted to see me, only for me to find H.E. Raila Odinga waiting outside my house in a car,” Wangui recounts. “When I got to the car, he told me that I had something he needed - the ODM Party.”

Recognizing Raila’s reformist spirit, Wangui agreed to hand over the party’s leadership to him. She stepped down as Secretary General to allow Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o to take over and was later appointed Secretary for Special Programmes in the party’s National Executive Council.

“Raila saw potential in me that no one else had seen. He was my destiny helper,” she reflects. “Two months ago, while having lunch, Baba told me he was proud of me and kept on steering my mind to 2027. Who would have thought that a young woman from Dandora could have been used by God to birth the greatest political party in East and Central Africa?”

Faith, Loyalty, and the Cost of Conviction

Her loyalty to the ODM leader has never wavered, even when it was politically costly.

“I’ve never betrayed Baba. Even when it became unpopular to be associated with him, especially because I come from Mt. Kenya, I remained proud to stand with him day and night. To me, he is the greatest man to have walked on Kenyan soil, and everything he has done up to this point is for the posterity of this great nation,” she says with emotion.

During Raila’s tenure as Prime Minister, he appointed Wangui as his Youth Affairs Advisor, a role that cemented her influence within the movement. Despite two unsuccessful bids for the Embakasi North parliamentary seat in 2017 and 2022, she remains steadfast in ODM’s ideals.

“Baba taught me and the ODM family the true meaning of loyalty, faithfulness, and fidelity to a cause, to always stand for something, even if I’m left standing alone,” Wangui says. “If you want to call it a cult, say it, but to me, I believe in Baba so much that kama Baba amesoma katiba, sisi kama jamii ya ODM tumesoma. Baba is a movement, even beyond death.”

Honouring Baba at ODM@20

For Wangui, the upcoming ODM@20 Anniversary in Mombasa is not just a political celebration, it’s a personal milestone.

“This celebration reflects my journey from Dandora to national leadership. ODM shaped my life and gave me a voice and a purpose. It represents growth, for me and for Kenya. Everyone who had the privilege to meet Baba and interact with him can attest that he made you feel heard and that you mattered,” she says. “For me as a woman, he created spaces for me at the table because he believed in me. I am what I am today because of H.E. Raila Odinga.”

The three-day event will also double as a tribute to Raila Odinga, who passed away on October 15. The celebrations will include a National Governing Council sitting, youth and women’s summits, and a major rally at Mama Ngina Waterfront, culminating in a thanksgiving service.

Among the invited guests are President William Ruto, one of ODM’s early founders, alongside former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Julia Ojiambo. Ruto’s expected presence has already stirred fresh political discussion about ODM’s future leadership and legacy.

“ODM was born out of the struggle for justice and equality,” Wangui says quietly. “H.E. Raila Odinga’s passing is deeply personal to me — he was my father, my mentor, and my friend. He has left behind many foot soldiers like myself who will continue his mission to impact our generation and those to come because his spirit lives on in us.”

Her voice softens as she adds, “As for me, I just wish he could come back, even for a day, because he had a way of telling me that things would be alright.”