Political parties are not sustained by memories; they survive through structures, presence and the confidence of their supporters.
This is the challenge now confronting ODM as questions emerge over whether the party is retreating into its traditional stronghold at the expense of the wider national network built by its late leader Raila Odinga.
There is nothing wrong with strengthening Nyanza, ODM’s political home. Every party must protect its base.
But a national movement cannot afford to become invisible in regions where its supporters invested years of loyalty, sacrifice and political energy.
From the Coast to Western, Northeastern and Nairobi, many supporters who stood with ODM through difficult electoral seasons are now asking a simple question: Does the party still see them?
Raila’s strength was his ability to build bridges beyond his backyard. He nurtured relationships across communities and transformed ODM from a regional formation into a national political force.
That legacy requires more than speeches; it demands consistent grassroots engagement.
The new leadership must move with urgency.
Consolidating home support and maintaining national reach are not competing goals. They are both necessary for survival.
If ODM abandons the networks that made it strong, it risks becoming a shadow of the movement it once was.
The party must prove that Raila’s national dream is still alive.
Quote of the Day: “Where all is but dream, reasoning and arguments are of no use, truth and knowledge nothing.” —Philosopher John Locke’s constitution of English colony Carolina was approved on July 21, 1669
