By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
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Kenya, 1 November 2026 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati met youths from all seventeen of Nairobi County’s branches on Sunday morning for a consultative session.
The party announced the engagement on X, saying it was among several the leadership intends to hold in the capital to consolidate its standing there.
“The meeting is one of the many engagements that the party leadership plans to have in the City to strengthen and cement its position on the ground as the most formidable force in Nairobi,” the ODM party posted on social media platform X.
The session came a day after party members and officials wrapped up the Mwezi wa Baba programme on 31 October 2026 at Nairobi’s Jacaranda Grounds, where a huge crowd turned up. At the Saturday rally, ODM leaders thanked supporters for sticking with the party following the death of its longtime leader, former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Ahead of the rally, ODM Secretary General Catherine Omanyo had urged Kenyans who shared the late Raila Odinga’s ideals to join Saturday’s commemoration, which was set to close a month-long series of events in his honour. She said the 31 October gathering would unite his supporters to celebrate his legacy and recommit to the values he stood for, among them national unity, peaceful coexistence and development for every community.
“If you loved Baba, come so that we can remember him together and continue his legacy,” she said.
Omanyo spoke at a women’s empowerment event in Meru hosted by Director Zabron Mathenge, a close ally of Raila. There she called on Kenyans to shun divisive politics and accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of fuelling tribal divisions, which she said ran against Raila’s principles.
“I am here to warn Gachagua: there is no spirit of Baba in Gachagua. Anybody attached to him is an enemy of Kenyans. He does not want Kenyans to be together,” she said.
The Busia Woman Representative explained that her Meru trip formed part of a drive to reach communities nationwide during the remembrance month, noting that Raila’s friendships extended well beyond his political strongholds. She thanked Mathenge for the warm reception, said she had earlier been in Turkana, and added that she was happy and confident as Raila’s daughter.
Omanyo maintained that Raila’s political legacy rested on uniting Kenyans irrespective of ethnicity or party affiliation, and said leaders who claim to carry forward his ideals should steer clear of politics that widen divisions. In her words, Raila disliked tribalism, which explained her visits to Turkana and Meru, and she stressed that Kenyans can live together and respect each other’s views even across party lines.
The ODM official also defended the broad-based arrangement between the Orange party and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), describing cross-party cooperation as essential for national development.
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She pointed to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s recent visit to Busia, saying she had come to Meru in return after learning that local women were holding a fundraising Harambee. She said there was no division between ODM and Kindiki, and wished him and CS Oparanya well.
“It should be a win-win situation; it is not a battle. I am in ODM, he is in UDA, and we are partnering to make a better Kenya.”
Omanyo said Raila’s vision was for development to reach all Kenyans without discrimination, and she encouraged young people to embrace cooperation and take part in nation-building. She told those who claim to have Raila’s spirit to rethink their approach, since that spirit rejected divisive politics and was about finding practical solutions for all Kenyans.
She added that ODM would keep engaging communities nationwide to promote unity and advance Raila’s legacy, and urged those who identify with his ideals to attend Sunday’s commemoration.
Former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna alongside other party officials including Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi have since jumped ship following the recent rebrand of The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) on 30 October 2026.
Sifuna is the party leader and presidential aspirant while Caroli Omondi is the Secretary General. Osotsi is the Chairperson in the proposed formation ahead of ratification expected to happen on 13 November 2026.
Suba South MP stated that LMM is a force to reckon with and claimed that their former headquarters, Chungwa House, is now a "bitter house".
However, ODM leaders claim that their party remains a strong movement and that they will remain strong in the broad-based government arrangement with collaboration with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).