Senator Eddy Oketch Issues Three Key Demands To Ruto Administration

Kenya, 31 October 2025 - A new wave of political consciousness is taking shape among Kenya’s youth, particularly within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), as young leaders rally behind Migori Senator Eddy Oketch to push for a more inclusive and accountable government.

The youths, who recently met in Nairobi, voiced their strong support for the emerging broad-based government led by President William Ruto and acting ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, but with a clear message — cooperation must come with tangible benefits for young people and justice for victims of past political struggles.

The meeting, held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) offices, brought together more than a hundred ODM youth representatives from all 17 constituencies of Nairobi.

The gathering marked a major shift in ODM’s internal politics following the death of Raila Odinga, as the young leaders sought to define the party’s role in a new political dispensation built on consensus and development rather than confrontation.

Senator Oketch, who has emerged as one of the most vocal and pragmatic voices among ODM’s younger generation, called for a balanced partnership with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He acknowledged that Odinga’s vision for a broad-based government was rooted in inclusion, national healing, and stability, but warned that such unity must be accompanied by real reforms that touch the lives of ordinary Kenyans, especially the youth.

Oketch insisted that for the broad-based government to gain legitimacy among the youth, it must go beyond rhetoric and deliver on three key fronts: expanding opportunities for young people, ensuring compensation for victims of political protests, and creating sustainable employment across sectors.

“The broad-based government must in return expand opportunities for the youth,” Senator Oketch emphasised.

“They must also ensure that compensation is done to victims of protests as Baba (Raila Odinga) had always desired, and that employment creation becomes a top national priority.”

According to the Migori Senator, Odinga’s advocacy for justice and inclusion cannot be left unfinished.

He stressed that young people were often the face of political protests, the most affected by police brutality, and yet the least represented in the corridors of power.

Addressing these historical injustices, he argued, is essential not only for healing but also for restoring trust in public institutions.

The senator’s remarks come amid a wider national debate on the status of the Panel on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests, which was established by President Ruto in August 2025 but whose operations were temporarily suspended by a High Court order.

The panel, chaired by legal scholar Prof Makau Mutua, was mandated to design a framework for compensating civilians and security officers affected by protests since 2017.

Oketch urged the government to expedite this process once legal hurdles are resolved, saying it would honour the late former premier's commitment to justice and human rights.

Beyond compensation, Oketch and the youth leaders also focused on economic empowerment as a foundation for lasting peace and national unity. They argued that youth unemployment remains one of Kenya’s most urgent challenges and called on the government to prioritize job creation through industrialization, creative industries, and digital innovation.

Political activist Kasmuel McOure, who co-led the meeting, echoed these sentiments, saying the era of street politics must give way to pragmatic engagement and youth-driven policy influence.

“Our generation must move from protest to productivity,” McOure said.

“We must work with government programmes that bring real change to our lives.”

The youth leaders also reaffirmed their support for Oburu Oginga as ODM’s acting leader, describing him as the best person to provide continuity and stability after Odinga’s passing.

They praised Oburu’s experience and maturity, arguing that his leadership would preserve ODM’s legacy while guiding it through this new phase of cooperation with government.

However, the youths were keen to draw a clear line between partnership and absorption.

They maintained that supporting the government should not mean abandoning ODM’s principles or surrendering its independence. Instead, they called for constructive engagement focused on policies that advance social justice, economic empowerment, and national reconciliation.

Their stance reflects a generational shift within ODM — from a politics of resistance to one of negotiation and results. Under Oketch’s leadership, the youth bloc appears determined to ensure that the broad-based government remains true to the inclusive spirit envisioned by Raila Odinga, while also addressing the aspirations of Kenya’s young population.

Senator Oketch said push for reform is non negotiable and that cooperation with government will only be in terms that deliver justice, opportunity, and dignity for all Kenyans including the youth.

As he put it, honoring Baba’s legacy now means building a Kenya where every young person has a fair shot at success, and where those who suffered for democracy are finally compensated and recognized.