One year on: Has Kenya’s opposition lost its way without Raila Odinga?

Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026.

What happened

Nairobi, Kenya – One year after Raila Odinga's death, the political movement he led for decades is struggling to define its future. Within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a bitter dispute over cooperation with President William Ruto has exposed divisions over the party's identity and independence. The struggle raises a question that extends beyond ODM's leadership: Can Kenya's opposition remain a credible force without the man who supported shape it?

Raila's death prompted tributes and commemorations celebrating a political career defined by the struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, freedom of expression and social justice. Yet the divisions now confronting his party reveal the difficulty of sustaining a political movement built around one dominant figure. His legacy remains a source of inspiration, but additionally a point of contention over what ODM should stand for and how it should exercise power.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around one year on: Has Kenya's opposition lost its way without Raila Odinga? Point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.