Migori senator Eddy Oketch has criticised the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party over a promotional poster for a youth convention that featured senior and long-serving party figures instead of younger members.

The poster, used to advertise the upcoming youth-focused event, displayed the faces of key ODM leaders, including party leader Oburu Odinga, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga, and Kisii Governor Simba Arati.

“How do these faces inspire the youth and enhance youth engagement in a major party youth event? Where are faces like Umi, Winnie Odinga, Hezena, Irene Mayaka, Jalang’o, Amina Mnyazi the host and other vibrant young leaders in this party?” he posed.

Oketch, in a statement shared on his social media handle on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, argued that the choice of images did not reflect the purpose of the event, which was meant to attract and inspire young people within the party.

He said the continued sidelining of youthful leaders in both party structures and activities was becoming a growing concern.

He noted that he had previously raised concerns within party organs about the need for greater youth inclusion, saying discussions had been ongoing for some time without meaningful change. According to him, the repeated use of older political figures in youth-orientated spaces sends the wrong message and weakens engagement.

Youthful ODM members

He further questioned how such imagery could appeal to young members and encouraged the party to consider involving more youthful leaders in both visibility and decision-making roles.

He pointed to figures such as EALA MP Winnie Odinga, nominated senator Hezena Lemaletian, nominated MP Irene Mayaka, Langata MP Jalang’o and Amina Mnyazi as examples of vibrant young politicians who should be more prominently featured in party activities.

Oketch maintained that youth participation should go beyond appearance on posters and extend to real involvement in planning, funding and organising political programmes meant for them, insisting that young people within the party were increasingly demanding meaningful space rather than symbolic inclusion.

Alai on youth  being sidelined

Eddy Oketch is not the only member of the ODM party who has been decrying the sidelining of youths within the Orange party. Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has also come out complaining, saying that even the party’s youth league leader is aged around 40 years and therefore should not be considered a youth. He further stated that whenever young people raise issues within the party, they are often not heard.

Meanwhile, the ODM party launched a youth convention initiative aimed at engaging young people through events across the country. The initial meeting was held in Nairobi on Monday, April 20, 2026, and another is expected to be held in Mombasa toward the weekend.