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Philip Etale, Communication Director at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, asked for pardon from Kenyans and his followers in his end-year message.

Unlike other influential figures who only highlight their highs and lows, Etale sought to begin a new year on a clean slate by making amends with Kenyans whom he had crossed paths with.

Etale admitted that through his public statements and social media posts, he could have brushed shoulders with some individuals thus setting them on a beefing trajectory.

Further, he acknowledged that he may have errored while executing his duties as a vital figure in disseminating information for the opposition party.

Etale thus extended an olive branch to Kenyans while pushing for unity, and peaceful co-existence in 2025.

“As we come to the close of the year, I want to apologise to you for anything that I said, posted, or uttered knowingly and unknowingly that may have caught you the wrong way.

“I pray that you find it within your heart to forgive me… a man is to error… please forgive me… I repeat please forgive me. Let us enter a new year on a new slate and love for one another,” he pleaded.

Please FORGIVE ME. #HappyNewYear2025 pic.twitter.com/SPKyE92cdL

— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) December 31, 2024

Shift in allegiance

At the start of the year, Etale and most ODM lawmakers only advocated for pro-people policies. They were at the forefront in opposing tax policies which they termed as retrogressive.

Etale issued statements that mostly reprimanded the Kenya Kwanza administration while vowing to fight for the rights of Kenyans.

Things took a different trajectory after the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests which forced President William Ruto to dismiss his entire cabinet before forming a broad-based government.

This allowed the inclusion of some ODM members to the cabinet to help steer Ruto’s agenda.

Following the move, Etale and other ODM members shifted their allegiance and started supporting a pro-government agenda. The sudden shift of position attracted backlash from a section of Kenyans with most of them demanding that ODM take an equal share in Kenya Kwanza administration faults.

Despite the pressure, Etale and other ODM leaders insisted that the party had entered into an agreement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.