Grief and Frustration Boil Over

SIAYA, KENYA – A meeting of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leaders in Siaya County was dramatically interrupted on Saturday, 25 October 2025, when a young supporter publicly castigated officials for perceived disrespect to the party's late patriarch, Raila Odinga. The incident, which occurred amidst a heavy downpour, has highlighted the raw grief and simmering frustration among the party's rank-and-file as it navigates a future without its founder.

The unidentified man, wearing an orange ODM cap, confronted the assembled Members of Parliament and other leaders who had taken shelter from the rain. In a moment captured on video, he emotionally accused them of seeking comfort while their leader's legacy was metaphorically left in the cold. "How can you be under a tent when Raila is being rained on outside?" he shouted, a symbolic rebuke that resonated deeply with onlookers. The confrontation took place just days after Odinga was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County, following his death on 15 October 2025.

A Party at a Crossroads

The outburst is symptomatic of a broader uncertainty gripping one of Kenya's largest political movements. With Raila Odinga's four-decade presence in Kenyan politics having come to an end, ODM is facing a monumental leadership transition. The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) moved swiftly to appoint Odinga's elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, as the acting party leader to ensure stability. This move was subsequently endorsed by delegates from the party's Nyanza strongholds of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay on Friday, 24 October 2025.

However, this transition has not been without internal friction. The Siaya incident underscores a potential disconnect between the party's grassroots supporters, who are still in deep mourning, and a leadership class seen to be jostling for position in the new political landscape. The young man's cry reflects a fear among supporters that the principles Odinga championed are at risk of being abandoned as succession politics take centre stage.

Succession Anxieties and Calls for Unity

The challenge for ODM's new leadership is to manage these internal dynamics while charting a coherent path forward. The party is scheduled to hold a crucial Central Committee meeting on Monday, 27 October 2025, to discuss its future, including upcoming by-elections and its relationship with President William Ruto's government.

The undercurrents of a succession battle were evident even before the Siaya drama. During Odinga's funeral service, his sister, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, issued a stern warning against factionalism. Recalling her brother's final wishes, she stated, "We cannot have one ODM being led by some people, another left with a few who think they own the party. ODM belongs to all of us." Her words serve as a caution to those seeking to carve out spheres of influence, emphasizing that unity is paramount to preserving her brother's legacy.

As the party mourns, it must also confront fundamental questions about its identity and direction. The emotional confrontation in the Siaya rain was more than just a dramatic moment; it was a powerful expression of the grassroots' demand for fidelity to the ideals of a leader who shaped Kenyan politics for a generation. The path ODM's leadership chooses in the coming weeks will determine whether they can shelter the party from the political storms ahead or risk being washed away by a tide of internal dissent.