Ida Odinga has used Raila Odinga’s 81st birthday to call for unity, calm, and dialogue within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urging party leaders to resolve their differences through consultation rather than public confrontation.

Speaking while honouring Raila’s long political journey on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Ida framed her message around sacrifice, patience, and the values that have shaped the party over the decades.

Her remarks come at a time when ODM has faced internal strains, competing positions, and growing pressure from both allies and critics, raising concerns among supporters about the party’s direction and cohesion.

“Mama Ida Odinga, in honouring the legacy of Baba Raila Amolo Odinga on his birthday, calls on the leadership of the party to speak with one voice, sit down and reason together and resolve issues and differences through consultations and dialogue in the interest of the party,” she stated

She reminded party leaders that ODM was built through shared struggle, resilience, and a deep belief in democracy, not through division or personal battles. Ida’s words were delivered in a reflective tone, drawing attention to Raila Odinga’s lifetime of sacrifice for democratic space, social justice, and political reform in Kenya. By invoking his birthday, she placed her appeal within a broader historical context, asking leaders to look beyond the present disagreements and focus on the long road that brought the party this far.

“She says this is how the late Party Leader would have done it,” she stated

Ida stated that Raila was more than a politician, but a symbol of endurance and principled leadership. She views internal unity as critical, especially at a time when national politics remains fluid and unpredictable. Ida’s call was not framed as a reprimand, but as a reminder of the culture of dialogue and consultation that Raila championed throughout his career, even in moments of intense political pressure.

She noted that his journey represents years of sacrifice, detention, losses, and resilience in the fight for multiparty democracy and constitutional reform. Ida’s statement sought to reconnect current leaders with that history, urging them to handle disagreements with maturity and respect for the movement’s roots.