Political analyst Herman Manyora has said that ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna is best placed to take over the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement following the death of Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Saturday, Manyora argued that the moment calls for a generational transition within the party, warning that ODM risks collapse if it fails to embrace change.
He said Raila’s passing has created a rare opportunity to redefine the party’s identity and prepare it for the future.
“For any institution to survive, it must think succession,” Manyora remarked. “At all levels—whether national, family, or global—there is an intergenerational shift. Whether people like it or not, those before us are exiting the scene.”
The analyst maintained that Sifuna embodies the youthful energy and modern political outlook needed to sustain ODM in the post-Raila era.
“The future leader of ODM is Sifuna, and that is what everybody is saying,” he observed. “Raila always believed in young people, and that is why this transition should naturally go to Sifuna.”
Manyora’s endorsement adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate about who should take over the reins of ODM and, by extension, the opposition leadership in Kenya.
While senior party figures such as Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho, and James Orengo have been mentioned, Manyora believes the time has come for ODM to make a clean break from its past and trust the younger generation to steer its future.
Sifuna, who also serves as Nairobi Senator, has been praised for his discipline, eloquence, and commitment to party ideals — qualities Manyora says reflect the kind of leadership ODM now needs to remain relevant in Kenya’s changing political landscape.
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