Discontent Brews in ODM as Video Shows Youth Burning Party Merchandise
NAIROBI, Kenya — Internal friction within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) appears to have hit a boiling point following the emergence of viral online footage showing disaffected party youth burning official ODM merchandise and t-shirts.
The video, which circulated widely across social media platforms on Friday, captures a group of vocal youth piling orange party t-shirts onto a bonfire while chanting slogans declaring that “ODM died with Raila Odinga.”
The youth openly voiced their allegiance to former Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, declaring him their preferred leader for the future.
This public display of defiance underscores a growing rift within Kenya’s once-formidable opposition party following the passing of its iconic founder and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, in October 2025.
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The party’s leadership transition has been fraught with controversy. Following Raila’s death, his brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, assumed the mantle of party leader.
However, this succession triggered immediate pushback from a section of party stalwarts, including Sifuna. The former Secretary-General was subsequently ousted from his position after openly refusing to toe the party line regarding support for the current broad-based government.
Sifuna’s departure appears to have alienated a significant portion of ODM’s passionate youth base, many of whom feel the party leadership has abandoned its core founding ideals and democratic tradition.
“The soul of the party left when Baba died,” one youth in the video shouted above the flames. “Sifuna stood for our principles, and without him, ODM no longer represents us.”
Political analysts warn that if the current leadership under Senator Oburu fails to address the underlying grievances and stem the exodus of loyal supporters, ODM risks unprecedented fragmentation as factional battles intensify ahead of the next political cycle.
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