ODM begins nationwide activation tours with Kwale rally on Saturday

ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga/FILE

ODM will on Saturday launch a series of nationwide activation tours with a major political rally in Kwale county.

 This is as the party seeks to consolidate its support base ahead of next year’s polls.

 The tour, approved during a Central Committee meeting chaired by ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga on Monday, will begin with a youth and women empowerment forum before leaders address a public rally later in the day.

 This is the second rally organised by the Oburu wing following the May 31 rally in Kisumu.

 “We will then officially roll out our rallies on June 27,” a member of the Central Committee told the Star in confidence, as he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the party.

 The party is expected to tour several regions across the country, including the Coast, Rift Valley, Northern Kenya and parts of the pastoralist belt.

 The choice of Kwale as the starting point of the mobilisation drive is seen as strategic, given the region’s longstanding loyalty to ODM.

 Party insiders say the outfit is keen to strengthen its grassroots structures in the Coast region and safeguard its support against emerging political formations, including the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been seeking to expand its influence in parts of the region.

 ODM leaders are expected to use the rally to reaffirm the party’s commitment to empowering young people and women while highlighting ongoing efforts to revitalise its grassroots networks.

 From Kwale, the party’s activation tour will move to Uasin Gishu county on June 27, marking a significant foray into President William Ruto’s political backyard.

 The visit is expected to test ODM’s ability to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional strongholds.

 The party has also lined up similar engagements in Turkana county, the Maasai region and the North Eastern counties as part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening its national footprint.

 In addition to political mobilisation, ODM resolved to support efforts by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to engage victims of police brutality through compensation and justice forums in various regions.

 Party officials said ODM leaders will accompany KNCHR representatives during some of the meetings to demonstrate solidarity with affected families and advocate for accountability and compensation for victims.

 “Our team will accompany the commission when they begin the compensation process,” another source told the Star.

 The activation tours come at a time when political parties are intensifying grassroots engagements and repositioning themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.