By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 6 June 2026 - The politicians came expecting to command the crowd.
Instead, for a few moments, the crowd's attention belonged to a woman dressed in orange, blue and political devotion.
As thousands packed an ODM rally in Kisumu recently, chants praising party leaders echoed through the venue. Supporters waved flags. Party songs blared from loudspeakers. Senior leaders took their places on the dais.
Then came Caroline Adhiambo.
The ODM supporter emerged from the crowd transformed into a walking political canvas.
Her body had been meticulously painted in the party's trademark orange colours.
Political slogans stretched across her arms and torso.
A striking blue outfit carried carefully crafted portraits of some of the party's most recognisable figures.
At the back of her skirt sat a large portrait of Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga.
The front blended images of Phelix Odiwuor and Tom Ojienda and Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho into a colourful political artwork.
As she approached the podium to greet VIP guests, the crowd erupted.
Cheers.
Applause.
Whistles.
Mobile phones shot into the air as supporters rushed to capture photographs.
For many at the rally, Caroline was not merely a supporter. She had become a symbol of a phenomenon deeply rooted in Kenya's political culture — the rise of political fandom.
The scene resembled something more commonly associated with football stadiums than political gatherings.
Yet in Kenya, politics has long inspired levels of loyalty, identity and emotional attachment rarely seen elsewhere.
For decades, supporters have travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend rallies, camped overnight to catch a glimpse of political leaders and adorned themselves in party colours with near-religious zeal.
In the 1990s, supporters of former President Daniel arap Moi proudly wore KANU regalia bearing the party's cockerel symbol. The multiparty era saw loyalists of opposition leaders don matching T-shirts, scarves and caps as political competition intensified.
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The arrival of mass media, social media and digital printing transformed the spectacle further.
Suddenly, politicians were no longer just leaders.
They became brands.
Supporters printed portraits on shirts, hats, vehicles and even household items. Political songs rivalled commercial hits during campaign seasons. Convoys attracted crowds similar to those following music stars.
The trend reached new heights during the political careers of Raila Odinga and William Ruto, whose supporters often displayed intense loyalty and emotional investment in political causes.
Political rallies evolved into colourful theatres of identity.
Flags became costumes.
Party slogans became chants.
And supporters became performers.
Carolines appearance in Kisumu was perhaps the latest chapter in that story.
Her body art was not commissioned by party officials. It was a personal expression of admiration and belonging.
For a few minutes, she embodied what political scientists often describe as the emotional side of politics — the point at which policy debates give way to symbols, loyalty and shared identity.
Critics argue that such fanatical devotion can sometimes overshadow scrutiny of leaders and accountability.
Supporters see it differently.
To them, political loyalty reflects hope, belief and ownership of a movement larger than themselves.
Either way, the spectacle remains uniquely Kenyan.
As the rally continued and leaders returned to centre stage, many fans in the crowd kept discussing the woman who had arrived wrapped in party colours and political portraits.
For many attendees, one image remained etched in memory: a devoted supporter who literally wore her politics on her skin, turning herself into a living billboard of loyalty in a country where politics is often as much about passion as it is about power.
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