Oburu Odinga calls for national unity in New Year’s message amid divisions in ODM

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Oburu Odinga has called for national unity in the country as the new year approaches.

This comes even as divisions continue to emerge in the ODM party, two months after the death of the former Party Leader Raila Odinga.

In a statement, Oburu emphasized the need to put the interests of the nation above personal or political gain and for togetherness to ensure the betterment of the country.

“A new year is a time of musing, reconditioning, and re-established dedication to Kenya, the nation we love…The year ahead calls upon us to reject division and embrace dialogue, to choose peace over conflict, and to put the interest of the nation above personal or political gain,” the statement read in part.

The way forward for 2026

Oburu added that ODM’s goal for the new year is to ensure Kenya works for all people and that leadership is anchored on integrity and accountability for the benefit of the citizenry.

“As the ODM Party, we enter this New Year guided by a clear vision: a Kenya that works for all. A Kenya where every child has access to quality education, where jobs are created through innovation and industry, where farmers earn fair returns, and where leadership is anchored on integrity, accountability, and service to the people,” he stated.

A resilient country

Furthermore, the party leader acknowledged the resilience of Kenyans in enduring challenges seen in 2025 through hard work and a hope for a better tomorrow.

“From our farmers and traders to our youth, workers and professionals, you carried the nation forward with courage and determination,” he remarked.

ODM is a major party in Kenya with members from various parts of the country. The death of the former Prime Minister and ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025 shook many in the political arena and the nation as a whole.

The divisions in ODM are evident in the media, causing many to question the future of the party.

On December 30, 2025, during Cyrus Jirongo’s burial in Lumakanda, the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna apologized to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for insults directed at him by some party figures.