The Orange Democratic Movement has unveiled a sweeping set of internal reforms aimed at sharpening its operations and strengthening its position ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party unity, leadership development, and expanded grassroots influence sitting at the heart of the agenda.
The reforms target how ODM identifies and selects candidates, with the party also committing to deepen the participation of youth and women in leadership roles while reinforcing its ideological foundations. The moves form part of a broader strategy to position ODM either as the dominant force in government formation or as a decisive partner in a winning coalition come 2027.
The party laid out its ambitions during a high-level retreat held in Mombasa County, where delegates reaffirmed ODM’s long-standing drive to capture national leadership and anchored the discussions firmly within its broader electoral blueprint.
“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,” ODM said in a statement.
The party made clear that the retreat was not merely a stock-taking exercise but a deliberate effort to translate its support base into concrete governance structures. ODM signaled that its founding vision remains as relevant today as ever and continues to drive its political direction.
“It is from the government that we will push for the realization of the dreams our founding leader had for the country. These dreams remain valid and remain ours,” it said.
ODM placed youth employment and expanded social protection at the top of its policy agenda, committing to a range of interventions it says will directly improve the lives of Kenya’s most vulnerable citizens. The party pledged to “create jobs for the youth; make government take care of the poor, the widows, and the vulnerable; make government take care of single mothers; and raise the upkeep for the elderly from the current Sh2,000 to Sh6,000 per month.”
While proudly reaffirming its roots as a movement built on activism and street-level agitation, ODM signaled a deliberate and significant shift in how it intends to pursue change going forward.
“ODM still believes in change and reform. Over the decades, we have fought for change and reform from the streets through protests and endless demonstrations. ODM was not formed to seek to form government from the streets but through democratic means. The time for this is now,” it said.
The party made clear that it has consciously stepped away from opposition-style pressure tactics in favor of working from within government structures , a strategic repositioning that reflects its growing confidence in its electoral prospects for 2027.
“We have made the conscious decision that going forward, we will pursue change and reform from inside the government. ODM has decided to be at tables and meetings where decisions that hurt our people are being made and to turn them into decisions that support our people,” the statement read.
ODM made clear that internal organization and sheer numerical strength will determine whether its 2027 ambitions translate into real power, stressing the need to build the grassroots muscle required to back up its political positioning at every level.
The Mombasa retreat doubled as a restructuring exercise, with delegates tackling ideological strengthening, membership expansion, and election readiness in a series of resolutions that set out a detailed action plan for the party machinery. On candidate selection, ODM directed its secretariat “to deploy and enable all regions to pick teams to scout, identify interested candidates willing to contest on the ODM ticket for all elective positions based on their ideals in relation to what ODM believes.”
The party also directed its National Elections and Coordinating Committee to design stronger, tamper-proof mechanisms for running free, fair, transparent, and credible party nominations across all elective positions. The committee received an additional mandate to revisit and redesign the processes for identifying candidates for nomination slots in Parliament and county assemblies, taking into account concerns that have already surfaced within the party.
On internal structures, ODM ordered a comprehensive review and revamp of its youth and women leagues, with the deliberate goal of achieving a generational and gender balance in the party’s leadership ranks. The secretariat also received instructions to deepen grassroots involvement by “enhancing mechanisms for involving the lowest ranks of the party in the management of all elections involving our candidates, including the identification of agents and deployment of appropriate funding for the same.”
The party further resolved to breathe new life into its Veterans League, positioning it as a mentorship pipeline for younger members, while simultaneously embracing technology as a core organizational tool.
“We resolved to devise actionable strategies to incorporate AI technology as critical components of the party’s organization and planning going into the 2027 elections and beyond,” it said.
ODM also raised the alarm over high internet costs, directing the party to engage relevant authorities on data pricing that it described as excessively high, a barrier, the party argued, that continues to shut ordinary Kenyans out of online government services spanning information access, education, public procurement, and opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Rounding out its resolutions, the party called for the full release of political party funds, framing the demand as central to its belief in financing democracy and advancing progressive politics across the country.
On accountability and justice, ODM called on the government to move faster on compensating victims of police brutality and pushed for the possibility of extending redress beyond the boundaries currently set by law.
The party also set its sights on Kenya’s learning institutions, resolving to activate ODM chapters in universities and colleges while deepening partnerships with youth organizations as part of a broader drive to capture the next generation of politically engaged Kenyans.
At the grassroots level, ODM committed to intensifying voter registration drives backed by funding from the national office, a recognition that mobilizing its support base early and systematically will be critical to its 2027 electoral strategy.
The party gave itself a clear deadline for accountability, directing that progress reports on all the resolutions adopted at the retreat be submitted to the Central Committee within one month.
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