ODM youths rally behind Oburu and Ruto, dismiss opponents of broad-based government

A section of ODM youth drawn from Nairobi on Friday expressed their support for acting party leader Oburu Oginga and backed the Orange Democratic Movement’s decision to continue cooperating with President William Ruto’s administration.

The youths, numbering over a hundred, said they would rally their peers across the country to support the Kenya Kwanza government, in line with what they described as the spirit of national unity championed by former ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Led by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch and political activist Kasmuel McOure, the group held a consultative meeting at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) offices in Nairobi, where they said Oburu embodies continuity, stability, and political maturity within the party.

“We are fully behind Oburu. He has the wisdom and experience to steer ODM through this transition,” said Oketch.

McOure added that the broad-based government arrangement initiated between ODM and President Ruto’s administration was “in the best interest of the people.”

“As the youth of this party, we support the broad-based government and will continue working with President William Ruto,” he said.

The group dismissed claims that ODM was being absorbed by the government, saying cooperation should not be mistaken for capitulation.

They urged young people to move away from confrontational politics and focus on job creation and participation in government programs.

“We also urge our party to give more space to the youth and ensure our generation is empowered,” McOure said.

Their declaration comes amid internal debate within ODM over its future direction, with some members cautioning against aligning too closely with the ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The youths, drawn from all 17 constituencies in Nairobi, also endorsed Senator Oketch as their representative in the broad-based government to champion youth interests.

Oketch urged the government to expedite compensation for victims of police brutality, saying this would help bring closure to past injustices.

“We call for the compensation of all those who were either killed or maimed by police over the years,” he said.

McOure also called for the withdrawal of court cases against youths arrested during past demonstrations.

In August, President Ruto established a 14-member panel to oversee the compensation of victims of protests and riots, but its operations were later halted by a court order.

The panel, chaired by legal scholar Makau Mutua, was mandated to develop a framework for identifying and compensating victims—including civilians and security personnel—who suffered harm or lost their lives during demonstrations since 2017.

According to the gazette notice, the panel’s term was to run for 120 days, with a possible extension subject to publication in the Kenya Gazette.

However, in September, the High Court issued conservatory orders temporarily stopping implementation of the directive establishing the compensation framework.

Justice Kizito Magare certified the application dated September 5, 2025, as urgent and directed that it be heard inter partes.

“Pending the hearing, the court stayed the commencement of the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests and suspended the implementation of Gazette Notice No. 12002 of August 25, 2025,” the order stated.