Senate Minority Leader and Kilifi County Senator Stewart Madzayo during a past meeting/FILE
Senate Minority Leader and Kilifi County Senator Stewart Madzayo
has called for a candid internal dialogue within the ODM party to
address the ongoing disagreements that have disrupted the party.
Madzayo warned that failure to act could tarnish the party’s
image, weaken its cohesion, and create space for intolerance and
political violence.
“Unless urgent action is taken, we risk heading into 2027 with
heightened tensions, intolerance and violence that could undermine
free and fair elections,” he said.
Madzayo, whose remarks come barely three months after the passing
of ODM leader Raila Odinga, said the disputes threaten to erode the
legacy of the late leader, whose vision and restraint kept the party
united for over 20 years.
“ODM is bigger than any individual. Baba Raila supported dissent
and debate, but he never allowed disagreement to break the party. We
owe him the respect of maintaining the culture of dialogue and
internal resolution he built,” Madzayo said.
The Kilifi Senator who was addressing the press in Nairobi
emphasised that public spats, particularly among senior party
officials, are eroding public trust and harming ODM’s dominance in
key regions.
He urged party members to channel grievances through established
structures rather than resorting to expulsion, public insults or
threats as such was not the answer.
Madzayo said the party must reinforce its organs, uphold
discipline, and recommit to internal democracy to ensure that ODM
remains a progressive, inclusive, and principled movement.
“Unchecked public exchanges, mudslinging and verbal slurs are
weakening cohesion and creating space for violence. The greatest
honour we can give Baba Raila is to protect his legacy, not tear it
down,” he said.
“ODM was never built to silence voices. It has the widest
national footprint, the deepest grassroots structures, and the most
consistent electoral base across multiple regions. When ODM speaks,
the country listens, and when it stumbles, the impact is felt
nationally. That stature comes with responsibility,” he said.
The Kilifi Senator further emphasised that the greatest tribute to
the late Raila is to protect his legacy by reinforcing the principles
of dialogue, tolerance, and internal democracy, rather than allowing
personal disagreements to divide the party.
He urged all ODM members to embrace open, honest, and mature
engagement within party structures, ensuring grievances are addressed
constructively rather than weaponised publicly.
According to Madzayo, such an approach will help the party
maintain its cohesion, strengthen its national influence, and
safeguard Kenya’s democratic process.