Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has urged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to actively engage young people, warning that ignoring their voices could undermine the party’s growth and relevance in the coming years.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Alai emphasized that youth involvement is critical for sustaining the party and empowering future leaders within Kenya’s political landscape.
“I reminded the ODM that every decision you make at the neck and the central management committee can be easily nullified, because the person who is representing the young people there is close to 50 years,” Alai said, criticizing the party for failing to give youth a meaningful platform.
He noted that young members of the party, particularly in Nairobi, have the talent and energy to mobilize support and run initiatives, but are often sidelined.
“These young people can host, they can, you know, with the phone, they can be doing wonders for this party, but you’re so focused the usual and old ways of doing things that we even forget the future of the party,” he said.
Alai also highlighted the need for leadership that communicates in a language young people understand, noting that ignoring youth concerns risks alienating a significant part of the electorate.
“I don’t know if it is by design… but these young people need leadership. They need somebody who can talk to them their language,” he said.
The MCA warned that failure to listen to young voices could have lasting consequences. “If they don’t listen to it, I don’t think that ODM can sustain itself for the next five years without the voice of the young people. And if they don’t streamline that, you’ll see what opposition politics has done to our young people. They are more outspoken… What they lack is voice,” Alai added.
He also noted that young people often see politics as their primary livelihood, especially given the difficulty of finding employment after long political involvement, making their engagement even more critical.
“Because you know these young people, when you have been seen in political platforms for so long, they can’t get employment. So politics becomes their lifeline. But when you settle in them, you ignore their talent and power and so on, it becomes very difficult,” he said.
Alai concluded that ODM must urgently empower young members to ensure the party remains relevant, organized, and competitive ahead of future elections.
“Clearly, that is the voice coming to people… people must be listened to in ODM,” he said, stressing that youth engagement is no longer optional but essential for the party’s survival.
