Why Raila’s call for dialogue has angered Gen-Zs

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s call for a national dialogue continues to spark fierce backlash, particularly among young Kenyans who accuse him of betraying their struggle.
The veteran Opposition leader, long seen as a symbol of resistance, is now facing one of the most dramatic generational pushbacks of his political career.
Odinga has built a legacy around championing national dialogue in the face of political turmoil.
After the bloody 2007 post-election violence that left over 1,500 dead and displaced more than 600,000, Odinga was central to the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) agreement that brought about major reforms.
That agreement, signed with then-President Mwai Kibaki, was divided into four agenda items, the fourth focusing on long-term issues like constitutional reforms, land injustice, youth unemployment, and national cohesion.
A decade later, following the disputed 2017 presidential election, Odinga once again found himself at the centre of another political storm.
After the Supreme Court nullified the poll and ordered a rerun, which he boycotted, Odinga declared himself the “people’s president.”
But just weeks later, he stunned the nation by shaking hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta—a symbolic truce that led to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), yet another attempt at national healing.
Launched in 2020, BBI proposed constitutional amendments aimed at power-sharing and political inclusivity. It was marketed as a solution to Kenya’s winner-takes-all electoral system.
Critics, including then-Deputy President William Ruto, dismissed it as a political scheme to create positions for the elite.
Mass protests
In 2023, after losing the presidency to Ruto, Odinga again resorted to street protests, culminating in the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
The aim, as before, was to ease rising political tensions.
And now, Odinga is once again calling for a national dialogue amid countrywide protests led by Gen Z activists demanding justice, accountability, and reform.
This time, however, the ground beneath Odinga has shifted.
The youth—who have organised mass protests without political party affiliations—see Odinga’s move as an attempt to hijack their movement. Their reaction has been swift and brutal.
In an open letter titled ‘Agwambo Kaa Home’ (Stay at home, Agwambo), the activists told Odinga, “You do not speak for us. Today, you have shown that you stand with the thieves and killers. We will not be silenced.”
Social media erupted with fury. One user wrote: “Raila Odinga is the biggest enemy of the Gen Z movement. Kenyans can now unite without him, and that threatens his power.”
Cracks have also appeared within Odinga’s political camp, with his Azimio co-principal Martha Karua calling the initiative a “trap” to hijack Gen Z’s momentum.”
“Dialogue can only be meaningful if driven by good faith and the interests of the people,” she said.
DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa was more direct, tweeting: “I am not boarding!”
Even Odinga’s son, Raila Odinga Jr, distanced himself: “Everybody is an individual, please! Even people with the same exact names.”
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni dismissed the dialogue calls as a tired political script.
“The Waki, Ndung’u, TJRC, BBI, and NADCO reports all came from dialogues. None have been implemented. The writing is on the wall. Implement the Constitution,” Kioni said, warning that powerful forces manipulate political figures into engaging in rituals masquerading as reforms.
“These engineered crises are followed by orchestrated ‘rescues’ by the same political elite,” he added.
Gen Z activists insist they are not seeking political negotiations, but lasting change.
“Dozens have been abducted, tortured, and killed. We are not here to bargain with oppressors. We want change—now,” said one protest leader.
Activist Boniface Mwangi offered perhaps the most scathing criticism.
“Raila was once the father of resistance. Today, he dines with those who abduct and kill the youth. He has lost credibility, respect, and his monopoly on protest. ODM now wants to ban protests because he no longer controls the streets.”
Still, some institutions are pushing for a more inclusive framework.
The Political Parties Liaison Committee, through Vice-Chairperson Christopher Kilonzo, proposed a citizen-driven forum that includes youth, civil society, workers, and faith groups.
“Let us transition from protest to purpose, from anger to action,” said Kilonzo. “This is not a political negotiation. It’s a public conversation.”
Speaking at a funeral in Bomet on Saturday, Odinga defended his proposal, saying Kenya needs a people-driven forum to chart a new course.
“Fifty per cent of the delegates must be youth, 50 per cent middle-aged. Old men should be few. All Kenyans should be involved in identifying the country’s problems. We must not go into the 2027 elections full of anger,” he said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking in the US, called Odinga irrelevant.
“Raila always finds his way into government, then pretends he had nothing to do with the failures. He wants influence without responsibility,” said Gachagua. “The real dialogue will be in the ballot box in 2027.”
Veteran activist Gitobu Imanyara, a former MP and political prisoner, said the current moment demands moral clarity
“Raila Odinga cannot claim solidarity with Gen Z while his party is part of a government that tortures and kills the youth. This is not about nuance. It’s about integrity. The Raila I once stood beside would never have tolerated state violence. He would not wrap himself in resistance rhetoric while dining with tyrants.”
As protests grow and public pressure mounts, the question remains: Will dialogue heal the nation, or has it become a tool for political preservation?
Rigathi Gachagua’s Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) has called for an inclusive national dialogue to address the grievances raised by young Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, who have recently taken to the streets to demand reforms.
The party’s Secretary General, Dr Jacob Haji has emphasised the need for peaceful engagement and urged the government to listen to the voices of its citizens.
Haji noted that the current wave of discontent among the youth stems from genuine frustrations that must not be ignored.
“The government must listen to its citizens, understand their grievances, and engage in meaningful conversations. Violence and intimidation will not solve the challenges facing our nation,” he said, reiterating the party’s support for the constitutional rights of all Kenyans, particularly the youth, to express their opinions and take part in shaping the nation’s future.
“We admire the Gen Z generation for their bravery. We support their calls for good governance and are ready to work with them to find lasting solutions. It is your responsibility to protect our country. We urge you to engage in peaceful dialogue and avoid any actions that may lead to instability,” he said.
President William Ruto’s allies, led by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), now say that the government is ready to listen but on condition that the talks are structured and not from their political nemesis.
“We are always open to talks with all Kenyans because we are an administration that listens to all Kenyans. What we shall not entertain is elitist political challenges created by people who want a shortcut to government. Only the people of Kenya can give you the right to manage their affairs through the ballot,” charged Cheruiyot.
Hillary Kosgei, Kipkelion West MP and ally of President Ruto, on his part, said that Kenyans should be given enough time to process the proposal of having a national dialogue to address the situation that has bedevilled the country.
“The former Prime Minister has just made a proposal. We should allow Kenyans to process the proposal, and then we will see the way forward,” said Kosgei.
Homa Bay lawmaker, an arch proponent of the Broad-Based government, Opondo Kaluma, reminded Gachagua that when he was in government, he opposed a national dialogue proposed by Raila in 2024.
According to Kaluma, they rejected it because it did not accord with their agenda.
“Gen Z died before June 25, 2024. We now have people from one region causing chaos and anarchy and sanitising it in the name of Gen Z. It is in their interest to go for dialogue, instead of running around the streets looting, destroying property, attacking people and chasing away investors we direly need to create job opportunities for our bulging youthful population,” Kaluma stated.