MOMBASA, Kenya — The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has concluded a high-level retreat in Mombasa County with a sweeping set of resolutions aimed at positioning the party for a strong bid for power in the 2027 General Election, either independently or through a coalition arrangement.
The retreat brought together Members of Parliament from both the National Assembly and Senate, governors, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), county assembly leaders, and members of the Board of Trustees.
The discussions focused on what ODM termed a “strategic and practical plan” to transition from opposition politics to government leadership.
At the center of the resolutions is a firm declaration that ODM intends to form the next government.
“It is the strategic and practical plan of ODM to form the next government either alone or as part of the coalition that forms that government in 2027,” the statement read.
The party reaffirmed its long-standing political agenda rooted in the ideals of its founding leader, Raila Odinga, emphasizing job creation, social protection, and expanded welfare support for vulnerable groups.
ODM proposed raising monthly stipends for the elderly from Sh2,000 to Sh6,000, alongside enhanced support for widows, single mothers, and low-income households.
The party also signaled a shift in strategy, stating it intends to pursue reform “from inside government” rather than through street protests and opposition activism, marking a significant repositioning in its political approach.
“We have made the conscious decision that going forward, we will pursue change and reform from inside the government,” the statement noted.
Organizational restructuring featured prominently in the resolutions. ODM tasked its secretariat and electoral structures with strengthening internal democracy, improving nomination processes, and ensuring transparency in candidate selection for all elective positions.
The party also directed the National Elections Coordinating Committee to develop “free, fair, transparent and credible” nomination systems, while reviewing mechanisms for selecting parliamentary and county assembly candidates.
Youth and women’s participation was another key focus, with directives to revamp party leagues to ensure stronger generational and gender representation in leadership positions.
ODM further resolved to deepen grassroots engagement by strengthening local structures, expanding voter registration drives, and improving deployment of election agents supported by party funding.
In a nod to modernization, the party committed to integrating artificial intelligence into its organizational and campaign strategies ahead of 2027, alongside digital reforms aimed at enhancing internal efficiency.
The retreat also called for engagement with the government on broader governance issues, including the reduction of data costs to improve access to digital services, MSME opportunities, and education platforms. ODM additionally pushed for full disbursement of political party funds to strengthen democratic competition.
On justice and accountability, the party urged accelerated compensation for victims of police brutality and proposed expanding the scope of such compensation beyond current legal limits.
ODM also announced plans to reactivate university and college chapters to strengthen youth participation in party structures and align with student-led movements.
The resolutions, which are to be reviewed by the party’s Central Committee within a month, underscore ODM’s effort to consolidate its political machinery ahead of a highly competitive 2027 electoral cycle.
Reaffirming its ideological identity, the party concluded with a strong message of unity and continuity.
“We are proudly ODM, and our identity is orange. We shall preserve it at all times,” the statement read.
