Africa-Press – Kenya. Jubilee presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has extended a robust congratulatory message to the Orange Democratic Movement as it marks 20 years of political influence in Kenya.
The opposition party is celebrating at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa from Friday through Sunday, commemorating two decades of political service and struggle while honouring the legacy of its late leader, Raila Amolo Odinga.
In a statement, Matiang’i praised ODM for its role in strengthening Kenya’s multiparty democracy.
“On behalf of my colleagues in the Jubilee Party, I congratulate the ODM Party on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. I do this as a believer in institutions as instruments for managing public affairs in any civilised society,” he said.
He highlighted the party’s impact in providing checks and balances on governance.
“Over the past two decades, the ODM party has substantially contributed to strengthening the political culture of multiparty democracy in Kenya. Furthermore, the party has played a significant role in providing oversight on governance,” Matiang’i noted.
The tribute comes just weeks after the passing of Raila Odinga, whose leadership shaped ODM’s trajectory and left a lasting imprint on Kenya’s political landscape.
The seasoned opposition leader, mourned by many as the father of democracy and civil liberty, succumbed to cardiac arrest on October 15 while on treatment in India.
His elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, has been approved as his successor by the governing council and is awaiting ratification by the national delegates convention.
Matiang’i urged the party’s new leadership to remain inspired by Raila’s principles and values.
“Raila was the leading light of the party and remains its greatest achiever. My prayer is that the new leadership continues to be inspired by the fundamental principles and values that Kenyans associated with Baba Raila Amolo Odinga,” he said.
Matiang’i also drew lessons from Africa’s political history, citing how parties navigated the loss of iconic leaders like ANC’s Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Julius Nyerere of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in Tanzania.
“These examples offer valuable lessons on the importance of ideological consistency over political expediency,” he said.
The three-day event will feature reflections on ODM’s history, discussions on its influence on governance and tributes to Raila Odinga.
Matiang’i’s message positions him as a statesman acknowledging Kenya’s political institutions while signalling his presidential ambitions for 2027.
“To the leadership and members of the ODM Party, and to all Kenyans of goodwill, I wish you a Happy 20th Anniversary!” Matiang’i concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
