A resident of Wajir County on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, unleashed a hard copy of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga’s 1997 manifesto when he ran for the presidency on a National Development Party of Kenya (NDP) ticket.

The resident who has only been identified as Ibrahim surprised Raila with the copy of the manifesto, which he has safely kept for 28 years.

ODM, in a statement shared via X, revealed that Raila had a chance of perusing through his 1997 manifesto after it was given to him by Ibrahim, his loyal supporter, when the former prime minister toured the North Eastern County for consultations and grassroots engagement.

“PL @RailaOdinga displays his manifesto for the 1997 general election in which he vied for the President of the Republic of Kenya on an NDP party ticket. This document was unleashed by a Mr. Ibrahim, a resident of Wajir and great supporter of Baba who has kept it for all the years,” ODM stated.

PL @RailaOdinga displays his Manifesto for the 1997 general election in which he vied for the President of the Republic of Kenya on a NDP party ticket. This document was unleashed by a Mr. Ibrahim, a resident of Wajir and great supporter of Baba who has kept it for all the years. pic.twitter.com/E2B6CfLEsO

— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) March 5, 2025

Raila’s 1997 manifesto

Raila had made various promises in his 1997 presidential manifesto, among them being solving the issue of unemployment and reviving the economy.

“Unemployment has become national enemy number one. Despite living in a country of huge potential in land and in physical and human resources, Kenyans are caught in a poverty trap from which there appears no escape. We continue to be held back by corruption in economic management and chronic underinvestment. The government consumes too much and invests too little,” part of the manifesto read.

“Building economic stability, creating a fostering environment for private business, and supporting small and medium-sized firms are all crucial to long-term economic success.”

Raila had also promised to ensure food security had he been elected as the country’s president in the 1997 general elections.

“Our plan to draw up a national strategy for farming, to provide a framework for policy and decision-making over the next 10 years, is vital to the regeneration of the food production industry. We will: Refurbish roads and transport, Speed up electrification and the provision of telephone and irrigation services, lnvest in research on improved yields and make the resulting seeds available to farmers, Rehabilitate extension services,” the manifesto read in part.

Wajir tour

Raila on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, took his political consultations to Wajir ahead of his highly anticipated announcement.

Raila, who was in the company of Suna East Member of Parliament (MP) and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, was received by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.

Taking to his official X account, Governor Abdullahi, who also serves as the Council of Governors Chairperson, revealed that the former Prime Minister had engaged with the grassroots in his consultative mission.

“Welcomed the Right Honorable Raila Odinga to Wajir County as he engaged with the grassroots in his consultative mission,” Governor Abdullahi stated.