Political activist Kasmuel McOure has publicly vowed to defend the leadership of Senator Oburu Odinga, the new head of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), amid escalating internal disputes that threaten to fracture one of Kenya's largest political parties. In a statement released on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, McOure asserted that any challenge to Dr. Odinga's authority is a direct affront to the legacy and judgment of his late brother and party founder, Raila Odinga.

“An attack on Dr. Oburu Oginga's leadership of the ODM is an attack on Baba's judgement and on the party structures he carefully built over the years,” McOure stated, adding, “He remains our leader, and we shall defend him as fiercely as we defended His Excellency Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga.” This declaration signals a firm alignment with the established leadership at a time when ODM is navigating a precarious transition following the death of Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025.

A Party at a Crossroads

The controversy surrounding Dr. Odinga's leadership succession has exposed deep-seated divisions within ODM. Dr. Odinga was appointed acting party leader by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on October 16, 2025, a day after his brother's passing. His position was later endorsed by the party's Central Management Committee on October 27 and formally approved by the National Governing Council (NGC) on November 13, 2025. The NGC also confirmed Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osoti as deputy party leaders.

However, this transition has been anything but smooth. The party's 20th-anniversary celebrations in Mombasa, held from November 14 to 16, 2025, became a public forum for these internal wrangles. Two distinct factions have emerged, clashing over the party's ideological direction and its relationship with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration. One camp, led by Dr. Odinga, supports continued participation in the “broad-based government,” an arrangement initiated by the late Raila Odinga. This faction includes prominent figures such as Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho and John Mbadi. The opposing faction, championed by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo, advocates for ODM to reclaim its traditional role as a robust opposition party and uphold its social democratic values.

McOure's Stand and the 'Gen Z' Factor

Kasmuel McOure, a youthful activist who gained national prominence during the 2024 anti-finance bill protests, officially joined ODM in November 2024. His vocal support for Dr. Odinga is significant, potentially signaling an effort by the party's new leadership to connect with the younger generation, often referred to as 'Gen Z'. McOure, who has expressed interest in running for political office in 2027, has been tasked with helping to revitalize the party's youth and student leagues. His staunch defense of the new party leader is a clear message to dissenting voices. “A new faction of cunning legislators and influential actors is spending heavily to manufacture an ODM narrative, trying to change and erase his leadership. We shall recognise no other centre of authority in this party,” McOure warned.

The internal turmoil has not gone unnoticed. President William Ruto, attending the ODM Founders' Dinner on November 15, 2025, urged the party's leadership to maintain unity and preserve its democratic legacy. Meanwhile, other leaders like Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein have warned that the widening cracks risk the party's very survival. The public disagreements have also drawn criticism from within, with Saboti MP Caleb Amisi stating that the leaders had “badly let down” Raila Odinga with their conduct.

Implications for Kenyan Politics

The power struggle within ODM carries significant implications for the national political landscape. As a dominant force in Kenyan politics for two decades, ODM's stability is crucial for the opposition's strength and the functioning of the broad-based government. The outcome of this internal conflict will determine whether the party remains a partner in governance or pivots back to its oppositional roots, a decision that will undoubtedly shape the political alignments leading up to the 2027 general election. The vocal interventions by emerging figures like McOure highlight a generational shift and a battle for the soul of the party in the post-Raila era. With calls for a National Delegates Convention to settle the leadership question, the coming months will be critical in defining the future of the Orange Democratic Movement and its role in Kenya and the East Africa region.