PoliticsUpdated: 18 July 2026 19:43 EAT
Photo courtesy: ODM Party national chairperson Gladys
Homa Bay Governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has firmly declared that the party will independently field candidates for all elective seats in upcoming elections. Speaking during the thanksgiving ceremony of Hon. Johnmark Ketorah in Kajiado County, Wanga clarified that ODM’s current participation in Kenya’s broad-based government does not mean it has dissolved its distinct identity or political ambitions.
Addressing the congregation, Wanga began by delivering warm revolutionary greetings from ODM Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga. She explained that Dr. Oginga had been invited to the ceremony but, due to scheduling constraints, designated her to represent him alongside other high-ranking party officials to show solidarity with the local leadership.
The Governor highly praised the host, Hon. Johnmark Ketorah, recognizing him as a vital pillar within the party’s structural hierarchy. She highlighted his role as the president of the ODM Youth League movement, noting that youth leaders from across the entire country had traveled to Kajiado to support an institution-building agenda centered around vibrant youth engagement.
Wanga further noted that if the veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga were present, he would have proudly joined the celebration to personally commend Ketorah. She expressed immense pride that Ketorah was appointed as the Chairman of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, describing it as a well-deserved honor earned on behalf of the ODM party.
During the event, Wanga took the opportunity to acknowledge several key politicians who have kept the party’s flame alive within the region. She singled out local Member of Parliament Kakuta Maimai, describing him as a strong gentleman who has steadfastly held the party together, emphasizing that structural organization is essential for future political negotiations.
The ceremony was also attended by National Assembly Minority Leader and ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed, alongside Kajiado Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho. Wanga lauded their firmness and shared an anecdote about a visiting Cabinet Secretary who instantly approved a local power substation request, highlighting the immediate development benefits brought by their political alignment.
Shifting her focus to regional dominance, Wanga described ODM as the largest and most resilient political party “south of the Sahara and north of Rival Mpopo.” She proudly declared Kajiado County an undisputed stronghold for the orange party, referencing its consistent history of electing top-tier leadership under the ODM banner.
Wanga paid tribute to former Governor David Nkedianye and incumbent Governor Joseph Ole Lenku for running successful county governments anchored on ODM principles. Looking into the future, she officially endorsed Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho as the party’s definitive candidate for the next gubernatorial race, promising that the party will not abandon him.
Clarifying the party’s stance on the current political dispensation, Wanga explained that while ODM has no active conflict with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) due to their shared broad-based government, they remain competitors. She used a color metaphor to assert that inside the government, ODM retains its orange attire while UDA keeps its yellow, meaning they will fight for their own legislative and gubernatorial seats.
The Governor revisited the origin of the political settlement, recalling the day Raila Odinga signed the broad-based government framework at the KICC. She noted that this arrangement initially caused friction between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, particularly when Gachagua realized the inclusive nature of the new political alignment.
Wanga launched a scathing critique against Gachagua’s contentious “shareholder” political philosophy, which she claimed promotes exclusion by prioritizing larger ethnic groups over minority communities. She argued that such an ideology forces smaller tribes to the back of the line, which directly contradicts the inclusive tenets of democratic governance.
In contrast, Wanga explained that ODM was built on a solid foundation of absolute national inclusion where every single Kenyan—regardless of tribe or status—has an equal stake. She cited various devolved units such as Turkana, Wajir, Garissa, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kajiado as prime examples where minority communities are fully protected under ODM’s leadership philosophy.
The Homa Bay Governor also challenged the numerical metrics of the previous general election, mocking Gachagua’s past claims that a single region delivered 7.1 million votes out of President Ruto’s 7.2 million total. She questioned where the rest of the country’s votes went, urging leaders to stop treating Kenyans with intellectual disdain.
Concluding her address, Wanga mathematically projected that if ODM’s formidable support base is strategically consolidated with existing coalitions, progressive forces could easily rally up to 17 million votes to secure a resounding victory. She energized the crowd with a rallying call for the party to remain unshakable and unified as they prepare for the upcoming electoral contests.
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