At a packed party briefing held at ODM headquarters, Loiyangalani Drive, Nairobi, on July 21, 2025, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) came down hard on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s allies, accusing them of fanning tribal tensions abroad, all while championing Raila Odinga’s much-anticipated national dialogue initiative.
In a statement delivered at the Nairobi secretariat, ODM portrayed Raila’s appeal as “a statesman’s response to a nation at crossroads,” spotlighting simmering public dissatisfaction fueled by “growing public unrest, youth unemployment, and a widening wealth gap.”
The party reasoned that “dialogue is not just necessary, but urgent,” framing it as a critical path to national healing and unity.
While reaffirming the legitimacy of their leader’s call to convene a national conclave, ODM doubled down on criticism of Gachagua’s faction.
The party accused them of promoting “retrogressive tribal narratives” in diaspora and diplomatic circles, moves that, ODM claims, “undermine national cohesion and embarrass the country on global platforms.” This accusation suggests that what happens abroad may have adverse repercussions at home.
These remarks come amid a backdrop of intensifying political debates over power-sharing modalities, equitable revenue distribution, and the checks and balances between the opposition and ruling coalition.
Notably, during a speech in Seattle on July 11, Deputy President Gachagua dismissed the national dialogue proposal, calling it “irrelevant” and insisting that the next elections, “the ballot box in 2027”, should settle the matter
In contrast, ODM contends that any dialogue must be “rooted in the public interest, not political accommodation,” prioritizing collective solutions over partisan gain. As Kenya marches toward 2027, the country faces a critical choice: embrace dialogue and cohesion, or watch political factions deepen existing divisions.
“A statesman’s response to a nation at crossroads”, the statement reads in part, framing Raila’s appeal as urgently needed. “Retrogressive tribal narrative undermines national cohesion and embarrasses the country on global platforms,” it added.
As the nation waits, ODM’s narrative is clear: Raila symbolizes unity through discourse, while Gachagua’s allies risk fracturing Kenya’s diplomatic image, and possibly its domestic harmony.
