Prof Anyang' Nyong'o
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to return to its founding principles as the party faces internal disagreements, urging leaders to protect the ideals that shaped the movement two decades ago.
In a lengthy statement shared on his social media platforms on Sunday, Nyong’o reflected on the origins of ODM and warned that the party risks losing its ideological direction if it abandons the values that defined its formation.
Nyong’o, who served as the party’s pioneer Secretary General, said his remarks were motivated by both history and responsibility as one of the figures present at the birth of the movement.
“I write not merely as a commentator on history, but as one who stood at the birth of this movement,” he said, adding that remaining silent during the current disputes would amount to betraying the party’s legacy.
The governor paid tribute to the late Raila Odinga, describing him as a nationalist leader whose political vision focused on justice and unity rather than ethnic arithmetic.
According to Nyong’o, Odinga believed Kenya should be built on constitutional principles rather than tribal alliances.
He said ODM was born out of the political struggle surrounding the 2005 constitutional referendum, when Kenyans rejected a draft constitution that many believed preserved excessive presidential powers.
“The Orange symbol became a historic refusal,” Nyong’o wrote, noting that the movement represented resistance against constitutional deception, systemic corruption, and centralized power.
Nyong’o argued that the creation of ODM reflected a broader national awakening that demanded accountability, social justice, and democratic governance.
He also highlighted the impact of the 2010 Constitution, which introduced devolution and redistributed power across institutions such as Parliament, the Judiciary, and independent commissions.
According to him, devolution was designed to prevent the presidency from becoming the sole centre of power and to ensure resources and decision-making authority reach counties.
“For decades, Kenya operated under a highly centralised presidential system,” he noted. “Devolution ensured that no single office or ethnic coalition could monopolise the Republic’s destiny.”
Despite these reforms, Nyong’o acknowledged that Kenya still faces challenges including economic inequality, youth unemployment, and persistent ethnic mobilisation in politics.
He warned that political movements often decline not when they lose elections, but when they forget the reasons they were formed.
The governor also addressed generational debates within ODM, describing them as a normal and necessary part of political renewal.
“Young leaders questioning old assumptions is renewal, not rebellion,” he said, urging experienced members to mentor emerging leaders while encouraging younger politicians to study the party’s history.
Nyong’o said the party must remain a platform for ideas rather than a symbolic institution rooted only in past achievements.
Looking ahead, he argued that ODM should focus on strengthening devolution, expanding economic justice, and protecting democratic institutions.
“The next 20 years must deepen economic justice, strengthen social protection, defend devolution, and protect democracy as a living process,” he said.
Nyong’o concluded by urging ODM leaders to safeguard the movement’s core values, warning that abandoning them would make the party indistinguishable from the forces it once opposed.