ODM plans youth convention to chart way forward amid rift with UDA

From left: ODM leaders Gladys Wanga, Simba Arati, Oburu Oginga and Abdulswamad Nassir arrive at the 2026 Special Delegates Convention at the Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, on March 17, 2026. [David Gichuru, Standard] The tension between ODM and UDA appears to be deepening after the faction allied to Oburu Oginga announced plans for public participation to seek fresh views from their supporters on the way forward for the Orange party. On Sunday, ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said that the party is headed for another public participation dubbed the youth convention. Wanga who spoke during a fund drive for Muslims in Kendu Bay Town, announced plans to conduct a youth convention in the party's strongholds to seek views on the direction ODM should take. She said that the convention is going to begin in Nairobi before being cascaded to counties perceived as ODM strongholds. "We have begun programmes for our young people as a party. We are going to start a mega convention in Nairobi in which we want to hear the voices of our youth on the direction they want the party and our country to take," Wanga said. The convention is likely to mirror another public participation the late ODM leader Raila Odinga undertook before he entered into the broad-based arrangement. The development casts doubt on the stance of the Linda Ground faction that had promised to continue partnering with President William Ruto. One of the questions lingering in the minds of many people is why ODM wants to conduct public participation which had already been done by the late party leader yet their position is that they must continue with Raila's legacy? Have they sensed danger in the planned pre-election coalition agreement? Speeches of ODM leaders during the function appeared to reveal that the planned talks on the pre-election coalition agreement are facing obstacles. Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi emphasised that ODM must be respected in any coalition agreement. Abdullahi said that some UDA leaders who were talking ill of the broad-based partnership, but that will not bar them from forming the pre-election coalition. "There are a few overzealous UDA leaders who were talking badly. But we will go on with the talks and we will agree," he said. He emphasised unity and strengthening of ODM ahead of elections. "All regions that are strongholds of ODM must remain for ODM. I urge the people of Nyanza not to be divided," Abdulahi said. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed maintained that ODM strongholds must be respected in the coalition talks. Junet hailed Wanga for standing against people he said were as intimidating her to weaken ODM. "Wanga has shown a firm stance that nobody will threaten her on matters of ODM party," he said. The MP was categorical that their strongholds must be respected. "Raila left us with our strongholds and we must respect our strongholds as a party. But we cannot be threatened that ODM does not have strongholds," Junet said. The leaders criticised DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua for making remarks targeting ODM. "Gachagua is the last person we can solicit for his advice. Let him stop talking about ODM," Mohamed said.

ODM plans youth convention to chart way forward amid rift with UDA

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

ODM plans youth convention to chart way forward amid rift with UDA

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Trending Now

Popular this week

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS