Raila revives ODM machinery in Kakamega amid rifts and 2027 pressure
By Isaac Mutia, July 25, 2025ODM party leader Raila Odinga on Friday, July 25 July 2025, attended a party delegates conference in Kakamega County, seeking to unify ODM amid internal rifts, addressing criticisms of his alliance with President William Ruto, and preparing for the 2027 elections.
This event ties into Kenya’s political landscape, where ODM’s strength is crucial for the 2027 elections. His ICAD 2025 advocacy for democracy might be tested by calls for internal party democracy.
“Just yesterday, I stood in Abuja at ICAD 2025, advocating for Africa’s democratic future and economic prosperity. That vision is not just for the continent, it starts right here in Kakamega, with you, the people of ODM,” he said
According to earlier reports by a local newspaper, Raila Odinga has been addressing internal rifts within ODM by initiating nationwide consultation tours.
The Kakamega County ODM Delegates Conference, organised by Governor Fernandes Barasa and other local leaders, is part of this effort.
Historically, such conferences aim to rally grassroots support, address party criticisms, and prepare for future elections, notably the 2027 general elections in Kenya.
This conference aligns with Raila’s pattern of engaging with party bases post-international engagements like ICAD 2025 in Abuja, which concluded on July 24.
The conference focuses on unifying the party amid growing opposition to Raila’s perceived alignment with President William Ruto’s government, a point of contention since their 2018 handshake and reinforced by his recent ICAD 2025 advocacy, which some critics on X label as hypocritical given Kenya’s economic challenges.
This conference comes a day after Raila’s ICAD 2025 speech that emphasised democracy and economic prosperity, themes he carries into Kakamega to bolster ODM’s platform.
However, the X reactions to his Abuja post suggest he faces a credibility gap, which could dominate discussions in Kakamega.
Raila is counting on his international profile, boosted by ICAD 2025, to strengthen his leadership within ODM, especially after his AU Chairperson lose in February 2025.
The conference could be a platform to reassert his influence domestically, countering narratives of him being out of touch