NAIROBI - Political activist Kasmuel McOure on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, issued a staunch defense of the new Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr. Oburu Odinga, warning that rising criticism against him undermines the legacy and foresight of the party's late founder, Raila Odinga. McOure’s intervention comes as Dr. Odinga’s leadership, confirmed by the party’s National Governing Council (NGC) on Thursday, November 13, 2025, faces significant internal challenges, including questions over its constitutionality and a petition demanding his resignation.

“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 via his X social media account. He argued that every decision made by the late Raila Odinga concerning the party’s future directly led to his elder brother’s confirmation as the new leader. “He has steadied the Chungwa ship and redirected it toward inclusivity and the consolidation of gains at a time when others were issuing ultimatums and plotting their own paths,” McOure added, urging critics to focus on their mandates and allow Dr. Odinga to lead.

A Party in Transition

Dr. Oburu Odinga, the Senator for Siaya County, was appointed acting party leader on October 16, 2025, a day after the death of his brother, Raila Odinga, who had led the party since its inception. His position was formally ratified by the NGC in Mombasa during the party's 20th-anniversary celebrations. The party also confirmed Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Kisii Governor Simba Arati as deputy party leaders.

However, this transition has been far from smooth, exposing deep-seated divisions within Kenya’s largest opposition party. A significant faction within ODM, including Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi and the late leader's daughter, EALA MP Winnie Odinga, has questioned the legitimacy of Dr. Odinga’s appointment. Critics argue that the party’s constitution mandates that a vacancy in the leadership should be filled through a National Delegates Convention (NDC), not by the NGC. Amisi warned that nomination certificates signed by Dr. Odinga could face legal challenges in the future.

Mounting Internal Opposition

The constitutional questions have been compounded by direct calls for Dr. Odinga's removal. On the same day as McOure's statement, a group of party life members led by Rachael Tabitha submitted a formal petition to the National Elections Board demanding the immediate resignation of the new leader. The petition accuses Dr. Odinga of violating the party constitution, undermining internal democracy, and sidelining long-serving members. It gives the party a 30-day ultimatum to convene an NDC to address the “governance crisis.”

These leadership squabbles are unfolding against the backdrop of a wider ideological battle within ODM. Two distinct camps have emerged since Raila Odinga’s passing. One faction, seemingly led by Dr. Odinga and National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, advocates for continuing cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration under the “broad-based government” arrangement. Another group, which includes Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo, is pushing for the party to reclaim its traditional role as a robust opposition force, arguing that the current cooperation risks diluting ODM's identity.

McOure’s Rising Profile

McOure, who rose to national prominence during the 2024 anti-finance bill “Gen Z protests,” joined ODM in November 2024. A graduate of the Technical University of Kenya with a degree in Commerce, he has positioned himself as a voice for the youth within the party. His vocal support for Dr. Odinga aligns him with the party’s establishment during a period of significant uncertainty. While he has been active in youth mobilization, the party recently clarified that Johnmark Ketorah remains the legitimate President of the ODM Youth League, dispelling rumors that McOure held the position.

As ODM navigates its first leadership transition, the defense of Dr. Odinga by emerging figures like McOure highlights the complex power dynamics at play. The party must now reconcile the directives of its late leader with the constitutional demands and ideological disagreements of its current members to secure its future ahead of the 2027 general elections. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED into the specific articles of the ODM constitution being cited by critics.