Nairobi — October 2025

Kenya’s main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has called an emergency Central Committee meeting for Monday, as uncertainty grows over a potential Cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto.

ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed the meeting on Thursday, saying it would be chaired by interim leader Dr Oburu Odinga. The agenda, he said, includes by-elections, the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations, and a review of its cooperation deal with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“We will have a special Central Committee meeting chaired by Oburu Odinga with three main agendas — upcoming by-elections, celebrating ODM at 20, where we’ll honour the 80 years of our late leader Raila Odinga, and discussing the 10-point agenda signed between UDA and ODM,” Nassir said in an interview with Citizen TV.

The meeting comes at a delicate time for the party, still grappling with the loss of its long-time leader, Raila Odinga, whose death has left a visible void in both party leadership and national politics.

Internal Rifts and Political Realignment

Insiders say the party has been struggling to maintain unity amid growing debate over whether it should stay within President Ruto’s broad-based government. Some senior members are pushing for continued cooperation, while others argue ODM risks losing its identity as the country’s main opposition voice.

“Our opponents want to see us fall,” Nassir said. “But we will be meeting to forge the way forward and iron out the ideological differences that appear to emerge.”

The ODM leadership insists the meeting will help realign the party’s strategy and reaffirm its core principles in the post-Raila era.

Speculation Over Cabinet Changes

The timing of ODM’s internal talks coincides with widespread speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle. Analysts suggest President Ruto could be preparing to expand his coalition government after recently striking a political deal with Gideon Moi, leader of KANU — Kenya’s independence-era party.

If Moi is brought into the Cabinet, it would mark another shift in Kenya’s fluid political alliances, just months after Ruto’s rapprochement with ODM. Political watchers say the move could either stabilise or further complicate the emerging power balance.

Charting ODM’s Future

Nassir also revealed plans for a broader gathering of ODM’s elected officials — including Members of Parliament, Senators, and county leaders — to build consensus on the party’s direction.

He made clear that ODM’s vision goes beyond being a permanent opposition force.

“The future of ODM is to continue advancing the policies and principles that Baba believed in,” Nassir said, referring to Raila Odinga by his popular nickname. “There is no political party whose goal is to remain in opposition. The ultimate goal is to attain leadership.”

As ODM prepares for its Monday meeting, the mood within the party is one of both reflection and recalibration. With Raila Odinga gone and political alliances shifting, the question now is whether the movement he founded can reinvent itself — or risk fading into history.