FREDRICK OKANGO
What You Need to Know
The ODM party is set to hold its Special Delegates Convention, a critical event for shaping its political agenda ahead of the 2027 elections. The convention, governed by the party’s constitution, will address leadership and coalition strategies, emphasizing the importance of participation for influence within the party.
Africa-Press – Kenya. As ODM heads to its Special Delegates Convention this Friday, March 27, a decisive political moment is unfolding within one of Kenya’s most structured parties. Beneath the noise of dissent and legal posturing lies a simple, unavoidable reality: The National Delegates Convention is the party’s supreme organ, and those who choose to stay away effectively surrender their influence over its future—especially as the 2027 general election approaches.
The legal and constitutional basis for the convention is solid. Article 47(1) of the ODM constitution is explicit: the NDC is the supreme decision-making organ, and its resolutions are binding on all members and organs. The Special Delegates Convention has been convened strictly in line with article 49, following a resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the issuance of the mandatory 21-day notice.
That notice, issued by deputy secretary general Catherine Omanyo, has been questioned in some quarters. Yet the party constitution provides clarity. Article 21(1)(i) explicitly allows the deputy secretary general, delegated authority by the NEC, to perform functions of the secretary general under certain circumstances. There is, therefore, no procedural vacuum and no constitutional breach—only a deliberate application of the party’s internal legal framework.
A small faction has nonetheless chosen to contest the process, in court and in the media. From a strategic standpoint, this approach appears misplaced. While the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has issued interim orders on specific issues, no binding order has stopped the NDC from convening. ODM has consistently affirmed its commitment to the rule of law, and there is no evidence of defiance.
However, legal processes must not be misused as instruments of institutional paralysis. Political parties, like all democratic institutions, must retain the ability to function even amid disputes. Article 73 of the ODM constitution anticipates such scenarios, ensuring continuity of operations regardless of temporary challenges affecting individual officeholders. This is not just legal prudence—it is institutional resilience.
Those calling for a boycott of the convention must also reckon with the consequences of that decision. Article 47(2) outlines clearly who constitutes the NDC: NEC members, elected leaders, grassroots representatives and special interest groups. These delegates are entrusted with making critical decisions on behalf of the party.
The agenda before them is far from routine. Delegates will consider ratifying resolutions adopted by the National Governing Council on party leadership and deliberate on coalition strategy under article 87. These are foundational issues that will collectively shape ODM’s political direction heading into 2027.
Choosing to stay away from such a forum is not an act of protest—it is an abdication of responsibility. Political influence is exercised through participation, not by absence. Those who boycott will not weaken the process; they will simply exclude themselves from it.
There is also a strategic misreading at play. The assumption that absence will delegitimise the convention ignores the party’s own constitutional thresholds. Article 49(g) sets quorum for a special session at 30 per cent of eligible delegates—a mark ODM has historically surpassed with ease. The party’s mobilisation capacity remains strong and the convention’s legitimacy will rest on participation, not unanimity.
More importantly, the coalition agenda carries national implications. As political alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027, ODM’s internal position will directly influence broader alliance-building efforts. Decisions made at the NDC will define negotiating power, partnership terms and, ultimately, the party’s role in government formation.
When delegates gather on Friday, the outcome will not be determined by those outside the hall, but by those inside it. Resolutions will be passed, decisions will be taken and the party will move forward.
In politics, relevance is not declared—it is demonstrated. ODM has opened a constitutional and transparent platform for engagement. Those who walk through that door will shape the future. Those who do not will watch it unfold without them.
The ODM, or Orange Democratic Movement, has been a significant player in Kenya’s political landscape since its formation in 2005. The party has undergone various transformations and faced internal challenges, particularly during election cycles. The upcoming Special Delegates Convention is crucial as it seeks to solidify the party’s direction and influence in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, amidst a backdrop of evolving political alliances and strategies in Kenya’s dynamic political environment.
Source: The Star
