WANGA: Two decades of ODM - Reflecting on the journey that shapes Kenya’s politics

By Gladys Atieno Nyasuna Wanga

Slightly more than two decades ago, in the heated crucible of Kenya’s constitutional reform struggles, a giant was born. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) did not come by as an accident. It was a conscious and courageous response to a defining moment in our nation’s political evolution. It snowbolled from a movement into a political party that represented the audacity of alternative thought, the courage to dream of a freer, fairer Kenya, and the will to organize for it.

From its inception, ODM Party became the most recognizable political brand in Kenya, synonymous with the struggle for democracy, constitutionalism, and social justice. Though the party has not permanently held national executive power, its imprint on Kenya’s governance and political culture is indelible.

In the course of time, the most enduring legacy of ODM has been its central role in birthing and defending Kenya’s 2010 Constitution: a transformative charter that remains one of Africa’s most progressive living documents. ODM Party’s unwavering advocacy for devolution, judicial independence, human rights, and citizen participation fundamentally reshaped Kenya’s governance architecture.

Devolution, in particular, stands as our proudest achievement as a living embodiment of our party’s belief that power belongs to the people. Counties across the country now thrive under this decentralized system, bringing services closer to citizens and empowering local leadership.

In politics, our party has played a central role too. Opposition politics in Kenya was fragmented, reactionary, and personality-driven. ODM Party professionalized and institutionalized opposition politics, transforming it into a structured movement anchored on ideology namely democracy, equality, transparency, and inclusion.

Through its policy platforms, parliamentary strength, and civic mobilization, the party became a credible alternative government. We have championed for social justice while defending constitutionalism, ensuring that Kenya’s democracy is never again held hostage by one-party thinking.

Our party’s greatest source of strength has always been the people. Through mass rallies, public forums, and grassroots networks, the movement awakened a new generation of politically conscious citizens. ODM remains the only party with a truly national grassroots infrastructure, connecting communities from the shores of Lake Victoria to the coast, from the highlands of Rift Valley to the streets of Nairobi.

This enduring people-centered approach gave voice to the voiceless; the youth, women, workers, and hustlers of Kenya and turned ordinary citizens into active participants in governance. It is this spirit of citizen empowerment that continues to sustain our resilience through electoral disappointments and shifting political tides.

However, the ODM party’s journey has not been without trials. Disputed elections, political betrayals, and systemic resistance have tested its resolve. Yet, rather than succumb to bitterness, we have consistently chosen dialogue over destruction and peace over polarization.

From the Grand Coalition Government of 2008, following the post-election crisis. The Handshake of March 2018 between Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta. The broadbased government under President William Ruto, all symbolizes our party’s commitment to national unity. These moments reflected a higher political philosophy—Kenya first, always.

As we look back at the twenty years of this journey, no reflection on ODM Party can be complete without honoring the indomitable spirit of Raila Amolo Odinga. Our party’s founding father and moral compass. For more than four decades, Baba personified resistance against injustice, the defense of democratic ideals, and the dream of a better Kenya.

Raila’s leadership gave ODM party its soul: courage in adversity, humility in triumph, and unyielding belief in the people. His passing on October 15th 2025, marks not an end, but a passing of the torch. A challenge for us to carry forward the ideals he so passionately lived for. ODM party’s next chapter must be guided by his values: truth, fairness, sacrifice, and hope.

In all these, what are some of the lessons that ODM party has learnt in the struggle:

Ideological Consistency and Adaptability Must Coexist: While our party stands firm on reform, equity, and inclusion, it has also demonstrated political maturity by engaging in coalitions like CORD, NASA and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, and in national dialogues that prioritize stability over division.

Leadership Shapes Political Culture: Under Raila’s stewardship, the party modeled integrity, endurance, and national inclusivity. Values that must now guide the next generation of leaders.

Grassroots Power Sustains Longevity: From youth groups and women’s leagues to boda boda riders and university students, ODM party’s heartbeat has always been in the streets and villages of Kenya. It is a movement of the people, by the people, for the people.

A Structured Opposition is the Bedrock of Democracy: Against all odds, our party has proven that opposition parties are not merely vehicles to seize power, but vital institutions that check government excesses, shape policy, and defend citizens’ rights.

In this period, key question among our supporters and observers remains what next in the next 20 years. At this point of transition, the movement stands at a historic crossroads. With Raila’s legacy as its guiding star, the task before us is not to mourn forever, but to renew, to reinvent the movement for a new era of digital democracy, social equity, and inclusive growth.

As a party, we must now champion the next phase of Kenya’s transformation: economic justice, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and technological innovation. Issues that define the aspirations of a new generation which is at the heart of our party’s future. We must continue to inspire hope, foster unity, and defend democracy with the same vigor that birthed it.

At twenty years, the Orange Democratic Movement is more than a political party; it is a living testament to Kenya’s democratic journey, a movement that has survived, adapted, and triumphed against odds.

As we step into the third decade, let us reaffirm our creed: democracy is not built in the corridors of executive power alone, but also in the steadfast courage of those who dare to challenge it.

ODM party’s story is Kenya’s story of resilience, reforms, and rebirth. And as the sun rises on this new dawn, our mission remains clear: to build the Kenya that Baba dreamed of: free, fair, inclusive, and forever orange.

- Gladys Atieno Nyasuna Wanga is the ODM Party National Chairperson and Governor of Homa Bay County