A proposal by some members of the ODM National Governing Council to extend the age limit of a youth from 35years to 45 years has been strongly dismissed by the party leader, Hon Raila Odinga.
The plot, designed by retrogressive ODM officials keen on maintaining the status quo in the party was to help the washed-out ODM Youth League Director Joseph Ketora (who is past 35 years) continue staying in office.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya during the orange party’s National Governing Council on Friday afternoon, Mr. Odinga described such a move as being pushed by those reluctant to transit from the youth age bracket.
”Being a youth has always been defined universally. From 1 to 35 years. From 35 to 45 that is now described as an early middle age. So what I see here is a reluctance to transit from the youth to middle age. There is no need to create another class here. Once you reach 35 umekwisha!” the ODM leader charged.
The ODM Youth League, despite being a wing of one of the biggest political movements in Kenya has greatly underperformed and disappointed millions of young ODM members who hold the view that Ketora plus the entire Youth League lacks the vision, passion, and intellect to organize orange party members aged 18 to 35. The future of the outfit.
According to the ODM Party Constitution, the ODM Youth League Leader, also known as the Secretary for Youth Affairs, should be a youth aged not more than 30 years at the time of elections. He or she should be responsible for the party’s activities and policies among the youth of Kenya.
The current President, Joseph Ole Ketora, assumed office in June 2016 after the previous office holder, Rashid Echesa decamped from ODM to Jubilee Party.