The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is holding a major rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East, Nairobi, today, Saturday, in what is widely seen as a test of whether the party can still command the capital after the death of its founder Raila Odinga and the departure of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

The gathering closes 'Mwezi wa Baba', the month-long programme ODM dedicated to Raila's legacy to mark one year since his death. The party has put up billboards across the city, sent grassroots teams door to door in Eastlands and run a caravan through Nairobi to mobilise supporters.

Oburu to speak from home

Party leader Oburu Oginga, 83, will not attend in person. His secretariat told the Daily Nation that he would address the crowd from his Nairobi home through a live link, saying he was "in high spirits" but that his medical team had not yet cleared him to resume public meetings.

It will be Oburu's first address to a major party event in about three months. He has not appeared at a public ODM function since August 10 and was discharged from Nairobi Hospital on October 19 after treatment. Questions over his health surfaced at Raila's anniversary service in Bondo on October 15, when a section of the crowd demanded to know where he was.

Makadara MP George Aladwa, the ODM Nairobi chairman coordinating the event, said the live address was meant to reassure supporters that the party leader is recovering well. Aladwa told People Daily the party was projecting more than 100,000 people and had coordinated security with police.

Big names expected

  • Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), John Mbadi (Treasury), Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives) and Hassan Joho (Mining)
  • Party chairperson Gladys Wanga and Secretary General Catherine Omanyo
  • Raila Odinga Junior, who is eyeing the Kibra parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud has said officers will be deployed along the route from Uhuru Park to the venue, and motorists should expect delays. Aladwa urged supporters from the western side of the city to use Mombasa Road, Thika Road and Outer Ring Road instead of passing through the city centre.

Battle for Nairobi

The venue carries heavy symbolism. Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement held its own big rally at the same grounds on September 13, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has also left ODM, has urged everyone attending to keep the peace. Aladwa has denied that today's event is a reply to Sifuna, saying the aim is to share the party's roadmap and to defend and grow its seats in 2027.

"Nairobi was Baba's bedroom, and those who left the party thinking it was dead will be shocked," Raila Junior said ahead of the rally.

The meeting also comes as ODM remains divided over whether to sign a formal written deal with President William Ruto's UDA ahead of 2027. Oburu said this week that the party would engage the President through a detailed agreement. In 2022, Raila beat Ruto in Nairobi by 767,395 votes to 561,775, and ODM won eight of the city's 17 constituencies.

Photos: The Star; People Daily. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.