12 ODM members of parliament are pushing for the overhaul of the party’s leadership structure, ahead of the 2017 general election.
The lawmakers insist that current leaders of the Orange Party, among them secretary general Prof. Anyang Nyong’o should give way to fresh leadership, if the party was to effectively compete in future elections.
The lawmakers have termed them as intimidation calls for the retirement of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from the country’s active politics.
Updates:
Ahead of the 2017 general elections, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faced internal pressures to reform its leadership structure.
A group of MPs, including Ken Okoth, James Rege, and Aghostinho Neto, advocated for a leadership that incorporated more women and youth.
They emphasized the need for a balance between experienced leaders and fresh, vibrant voices to strengthen the party’s appeal and effectiveness.
In response to these concerns and broader organizational challenges, ODM initiated a comprehensive restructuring of its party organs. Under the guidance of Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen, the party introduced a tiered structure aimed at decentralizing authority and enhancing grassroots engagement.
The new framework established the National Party, County Party offices, Polling Station Steering Committees, and Sub-Branch Executive Committees.
This restructuring was informed by the recommendations of the Fred Adhuok-led disciplinary committee, which identified management and secretariat issues that needed addressing to improve party operations.
Additionally, the party revised its Elections and Nominations Rules to align with the new structure, aiming to make the nomination process more democratic, transparent, and credible.
These reforms were part of ODM’s broader strategy to strengthen its internal systems and enhance its competitiveness in the 2017 elections.
