ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Nassir has defended the party’s approach to dialogue, insisting that engaging with others is a sign of strength rather than weakness.
Speaking on Friday at the Special Delegates Convention in Nairobi, Nassir urged members to unite behind newly ratified leader Oburu Oginga and dismiss claims of division, stressing the need to respect party structures while working together for a common political future.
He acknowledged that the party’s pursuit of power for the people has often attracted criticism. “For far too long we have been pursuing power for the people relentlessly, and in doing so, we have been called very, very many names,” Nassir said.
He recounted accusations faced by the party over the years, including claims of internal disagreements and leadership being out of touch. “This party has been called sell out. This party has been told that we have been divided… even been told that the leadership is old,” he noted.
Nassir emphasized that such criticisms are not new, noting that even under the late Raila Amolo Odinga’s leadership, the party faced similar claims. “Each and every one of those accusations were there even when our founding party leader was in power, but we never ever stopped to relentlessly pursue that power that deserves to go to the people of this country,” he said.
He highlighted that dialogue has always been central to ODM’s strategy and rejected the notion that engagement signals surrender. “Dialogue is never weakness.
Engagement is not surrender, and strategy is not betrayal,” Nassir said, pointing out that the party has consistently prioritized discussions both before and after elections. “ODM has always been a party, during pre-election and post-elections we have always believed in dialogue,” he added.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir. PHOTO/Nassir FacebookNassir argued that engaging opponents requires restraint and strength, contrasting it with confrontational politics. “It takes strength for you to be able to dialogue, anyone can accuse and abuse you, but strength comes in making sure that you do not use a hammer to kill a fly,” he said.
He portrayed ODM not just as a political party but as a movement built on resilience and the determination of Kenyans. “ODM is not just a party. It is a movement built on resilience and unbreakable will of the people of this country,” Nassir said.
Following the transition in leadership after Raila Odinga’s passing, Nassir pledged loyalty to the new party leader.
“Today I pledge my loyalty to our new party leader Oburu Oginga,” he said, urging members to rally behind Oburu and respect the decisions made through party structures. “I urge and I call on every single Kenyan, let us rally behind Oburu,” he added, appealing even to those who may have distanced themselves from the party to return and support its direction.
He underscored the importance of ODM’s institutional structures, noting that decisions made through these bodies should be respected and reinforced.
“This is a party that was built on principles, built with structures and if the structures have been able to make a decision, that decision should be a resounding decision,” Nassir said. He concluded by reaffirming the party’s focus on negotiation, unity, and advancing a collective agenda for Kenya. “Oburu Odinga shall take us and lead us through negotiation for a better Kenya,” he said.
