ODM Leaders Refuse To Support James Orengo As Raila Odinga's Successor

• George Aladwa led ODM Nairobi county officials in drumming up support for Governor James Orengo to succeed incumbent party chief Raila Odinga
• The national chairpersons led by Fernandez Barasa stated that Raila is still the party leader, and hence the position is not vacant
• Barasa outlined a series of meetings which will include the party's top leadership to deliberate on the succession plans

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

ODM Nairobi county officials, led by George Aladwa, have expressed strong support for Siaya governor James Orengo as Raila Odinga's potential successor.

This move comes as Raila focuses on securing the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC), which could diminish his involvement in local politics.

Why ODM leaders challenged James Orengo's endorsement

However, the endorsement of Orengo has been met with scepticism from ODM's chairpersons across the country who have labelled the discussion of Raila's succession as premature, Citizen Digital reports.

During a meeting held on Tuesday, September 10, Kakamega governor Fernandez Barasa, representing the county party bosses, emphasised that Raila remains the party leader and that any discussions about succession should involve the top leadership of ODM.

"We have decided that, since Raila is still the party leader, discussing his succession at this time is premature. Our party has established procedures for appointing an acting leader if needed," he said.

How ODM will implement Raila's succession plan

Barasa assured party members that there would be no leadership vacuum following Raila's departure, citing established structures to manage such transitions.

He outlined the forthcoming schedule for decision-making: a meeting of the Central Management Committee is set for Wednesday, September 11, the National Executive Committee (NEC) will convene next week, and the National Delegates Conference is scheduled for October to further deliberate on the succession plan.

“As county chairmen responsible for party activities across our 47 counties, I want to assure our members that there will be no leadership gap. ODM has robust structures in place, and once these are reinforced, we will be well-prepared to handle any transition, even if Baba steps down,” he explained.

Why should Raila Odinga exit ODM's leadership?

Raila has been the undisputed leader of ODM for nearly two decades, a tenure that has recently sparked calls from within the party for his departure.

Leading ODM since its founding in 2005, Raila's long-standing leadership is a testament to his resilience, strategic acumen, and unmatched ability to navigate Kenya's complex political landscape.

His legacy includes both significant triumphs and notable setbacks.

Despite these challenges, Raila has consistently been a pivotal figure in Kenya's struggle for democracy and justice, securing his place in history as a master strategist and enduring leader.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke