ODM’s National Governing Council to Ratify New Leadership
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is set to hold a crucial meeting next week, where the National Governing Council (NGC) will ratify the appointment of Dr. Oburu Oginga as the party’s new leader. This significant event will take place in Mombasa on Thursday, November 13, 2025, just ahead of the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
The NGC, which serves as the top decision-making body of the party, has invited all its members to arrive early in Mombasa for the convention. The agenda of the meeting is focused on “ratifying appointments to party positions.” Makadara MP George Aladwa, who is also the Nairobi County Branch Chairman, confirmed that the NGC will be in Mombasa on the evening of the 13th to finalize the appointment of key officials, including Dr. Oburu as the substantive leader of the party.
Dr. Oburu Oginga was appointed as the acting party leader on October 16, 2025, by the National Executive Council (NEC), just a day after the passing of his brother in India. Following this, the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) met in Nairobi and unanimously endorsed his appointment. In a statement, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said:
“This being the first meeting of the committee since the passing of the party leader, the top party organ endorses Hon. Dr Oburu Oginga as the new party leader and urges the party rank and file to accord him all the necessary support and cooperation to enable him to guide the party through this difficult time.”
In addition to Dr. Oburu, other officials are expected to be confirmed during the meeting. These include the three deputy party leaders: Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, and Kisii Governor Simba Arati. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga will also be confirmed as the substantive party chairman, replacing John Mbadi, who was recently appointed as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary.
Other changes include the replacement of former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who both joined the cabinet. The ODM Central Management Committee also expanded the number of deputy party leaders to three, with Osotsi named as the third deputy.
According to the ODM party constitution and the Political Parties Act, these changes require ratification by a superior organ such as the NGC or the National Delegates Convention (NDC) to be recognized as substantive.
The NGC consists of over 450 officials, including all 290 branch (constituency) chairpersons, all 47 county chairpersons, 43 members of the NEC, and 20 members of the executive committee from both the youth and women leagues. Additionally, all members of parliament (both Senate and National) and all Members of County Assembly (MCAs) elected on the ODM party are part of the NGC.
ODM@20 Celebrations and Legacy
Originally scheduled for Mombasa last month, the ODM@20 fete was postponed to this month due to Raila Odinga’s health issues. After his passing, the party resolved to proceed with the event, which will now serve as a celebration of his legacy as a political leader.
ODM had invited its founder members to the event. While Raila and Joe Nyagah have since passed away, most of the founder members are still alive. They include President William Ruto, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and ex-Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, among others.
Although Raila had initially invited these luminaries, Dr. Oburu is reportedly planning to send new invitations to the event, which will take place from the 14th to the 16th.
Origins of ODM
ODM was founded in 2005 following the opposition victory in the failed referendum supported by former President Mwai Kibaki and his allies. The No team, represented by the orange symbol, defeated the Yes team with the Banana symbol in November 2005.
The movement was also inspired by the events of the Orange Revolution in Kiev, Ukraine, which took place from November 2004 to January 2005. This revolution successfully prevented Russian-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych from stealing the Ukrainian presidency and paved the way for the election of reformist leader Viktor Yushchenko.