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Governor Nassir: ODM Will Lead or Be Part of the Next Government

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is set to hold a high-level meeting next week to determine its political direction for the 2027 general elections, with Governor Abdulswamad Nassir declaring the party will not return to the opposition.

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The announcement comes amid public speculation over the late party leader Raila Odinga’s purported wishes for the party’s future, a topic featuring conflicting accounts from senior officials.

Speaking in an interview with Citizen TV’s Rashid Abdallah on Thursday, the Mombasa Governor confirmed that the party’s top brass, including all its Members of Parliament, Senators, and Governors, will convene on Monday to establish a clear path forward.

“The party will be giving a directive about the direction the party will take,” Governor Nassir stated, emphasizing the meeting’s significance.

The party’s succession plan has been a subject of intense debate since the passing of Raila Odinga. Governor Nassir acknowledged that internal tensions regarding the 2027 strategy are not new, revealing that they “were there even before the death of Raila Odinga.”

This internal divergence became public following eulogies at Raila’s funeral, where senior leaders offered contrasting narratives. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga claimed the former Prime Minister had expressed a desire for ODM to support President William Ruto. Conversely, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna asserted that Raila’s instruction was for the party to field its own presidential candidate in 2027.

When pressed by Abdallah on what direction Raila would have taken were he still alive, Governor Nassir described it as a “difficult question to answer,” noting that the former leader “followed what Kenyans wanted.”

Looking ahead, Governor Nassir was unequivocal about ODM’s ambitions. “The ODM party will either form the government or be in the government,” he declared. “The ODM party will not be in the opposition again.”

The party is also preparing to mark two major milestones: its 20th anniversary and the late Raila Odinga’s 80th birthday, events that will double as a celebration of his political legacy.

All eyes will now be on Monday’s parliamentary group meeting, whose outcomes are expected to significantly shape Kenya’s political landscape as the country moves toward the 2027 polls.