ODM’s county chairs lay down fresh presidential demands ahead of 2027 elections
By Luke Oluoch, January 16, 2026The ideological dissension with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has taken yet another turn after the party’s Council of County Coordinating Chairs (CoCC) issued fresh demands to the party ahead of the 2027 elections
Led by Chairman Zebedee Osabwa, Secretary Dickson Imanyara, and Ann Chepkwony, the council on Thursday, January 15, 2025, revealed that it had reached the decision to ensure the party fields a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections.
The council stated that the decision had been reached after wide consultations, including a decision to ensure the veteran party remains a distinct political force.
Field a presidential candidate
“As the ODM party, we will identify a presidential material who will lead us in spearheading the process of deciding our presidential candidate for the party. That is the resolution passed by this council of chairs,” Osabwa stated.
The council has additionally stated that they will field candidates in other elective posts in the election, as resolved by its nationwide chair council.
Among its other demands, the council called for a status report from the secretary general on the implementation of the Ten-Point Agenda signed with UDA, insisting that no further agreements be made until full implementation.
While commenting on the ongoing issues within the party, the council faulted the party’s steering committee for disregarding them in important party matters.
“There has not been a single time when Raila ever took a decision without consulting us as the chairs, but now we have seen meetings being convened without even calling the county chairs or consulting us,” he added.
They underscored their important role in the party, demanding that they henceforth be treated with the respect they deserve as a crucial cog in the party’s grassroots presence
“We are the ones who built the party from the grassroots—from polling station to branch and county level. We are the foundation and must be respected as we deserve,” he added.