ODM youth leader Kasmuel McOure has called on party members to remain united and protect the Party’s national identity, warning that divisions could destroy the movement that Raila Odinga built over decades.
Speaking on Thursday during a Radio Generation interview, Kasmuel said recent public disagreements among ODM leaders had created an impression of fragmentation, particularly in the wake of Odinga’s death urging members to remember that the party was founded as a national, not regional, movement.
“The ODM is not a Luo outfit,” Kasmuel said. “Baba built it as a national vehicle for change, bringing together leaders from every region of Kenya, from the coast to western to central.”
Kasmuel’s comments come against the backdrop of growing divisions within ODM and the broader Azimio la Umoja coalition following Raila’s passing last week.
Since his death, several factions within the movement have emerged, some pushing for a generational transition in leadership, while others insist on preserving Raila’s political legacy under his long-time allies.
The power struggle has spilled into public rallies and social media debates, fuelling uncertainty about the coalition’s future direction.
He highlighted the diversity of ODM’s leadership, noting that its deputy party leaders come from the Coast and Western Kenya, while the national chairperson, Governor Gladys Wanga, hails from Homa Bay. “Our strength lies in inclusivity,” he said.
Kasmuel also came to the defence of Governor Wanga, who had recently been criticised on social media following remarks about leaders fraternising with those who made divisive comments about Raila Odinga’s death.
“Governor Wanga did not say people were uninvited to Bondo. She was addressing an uncomfortable truth, that some leaders have spoken in ways that dishonour Baba’s memory,” Kasmuel said.
He added that the governor’s remarks were misinterpreted by those “who refuse to confront the tribalism still whispered in some quarters.”
“She said now we know our friends, and she was right,” he said. “We will forgive, but we now know who stands with us and who doesn’t.”
Turning to ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Kasmuel expressed disappointment over what he described as weak communication during a crucial moment for the party.
“The Secretary-General is the spokesperson of the ODM,” he remarked. “He should have been the one to speak clearly for the movement, but instead, that burden fell on Governor Wanga, who has not rested since Baba’s passing.”
Kasmuel argues Raila Odinga’s passing had created a leadership vacuum that must be filled with collective responsibility, not rivalry.
“If we don’t show unity now, ODM risks looking like a regional outfit,” he warned. “Baba spent his life building a movement that transcends tribe, it is our duty to protect that legacy.”
