EALA MP Winnie Odinga has urged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to embrace reforms, strengthen grassroots structures, and create space for youth participation as the party navigates a critical transition. Speaking at the Special Delegates Convention in Nairobi on Friday, she warned that failing to address the concerns of ordinary Kenyans could leave members behind, stressing the need for a “new ODM” that listens, includes, and delivers meaningful change.
“So therefore, one thing I'm going to ask for is a spirit of reconciliation, a spirit of understanding, a spirit of listening, a spirit that does not chase away, that does not force out, a spirit that opens and lets us in,” Winnie said, calling for unity and inclusion among party leaders.
Addressing the gathering as a representative of young Kenyans, she highlighted the responsibility she carries to reflect their aspirations and hopes. “Today, I stand before you not just as a proud life member of ODM, but as a voice of the vibrant, hopeful and resilient young Kenyans,” she said. “It is not lost upon me that today I may be one of the youngest people that stands on this stage, but I carry this responsibility of their dreams and their aspirations.”
Winnie stressed that ODM must reconnect with its founding values and revisit the principles laid down by its forefathers. “Something I wanted us to bring back into context is the values of this party, the values that created the foundations of this party… those are the values of our forefathers,” she said, warning that ignoring the needs of the grassroots could risk alienating supporters.
She shared personal stories from ordinary citizens to illustrate the challenges facing Kenyans. “One from a lady called Aisha, every morning, she wakes up, she goes to the market, she sells her vegetables to feed her two children, she’s dreaming of a better life. Aisha, we have not forgotten you,” Winnie said. She also spoke of James, a young unemployed graduate, urging the party to respond to the frustrations of youth. “James asks for a new ODM. We must be that new ODM,” she added, noting that such experiences reflect the struggles of millions across the country.
The ODM MP called for greater youth participation in decision-making beyond mobilisation roles. “We want participation as young people that extends beyond rallies… we want to be bold and our voices shape decisions and negotiations,” she said. She also proposed decentralising power to empower grassroots branches and revamping the youth league into a platform for policy engagement. “We want to decentralize power, empowering our branches and our grassroots,” she said. “We want to revamp our youth league into a platform where young people can join, to share policy.”
Winnie underlined the need for accountability, saying leaders must be answerable to party members. “We want to hold our leaders accountable,” she said, stressing that ODM must remain responsive to the struggles faced by Kenyans. “We cannot overlook that reality. We cannot be a party that does not care about the struggles that we have come through,” she added.
Her presence at the convention also reaffirmed the influence of the Odinga family within the party, coming amid calls for continuity of leadership linked to the late Raila Odinga. Observers noted that her call for a “new ODM” symbolised both a link to the party’s legacy and a push for modernisation, focusing on inclusion, responsiveness, and youth empowerment.
The Special Delegates Convention, held at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Grounds, brought together thousands of delegates from various party organs, including elected leaders, youth representatives, and affiliated leagues. It serves as ODM’s top decision-making forum, responsible for endorsing leadership structures and guiding the party’s policy direction.
Winnie Odinga’s speech highlighted the centrality of reconciliation, youth inclusion, and grassroots mobilisation as ODM seeks to reposition itself in the post-Raila era, balancing legacy with the demands of a new generation of Kenyans.
