IMANI: Why future of ODM and Kenyan democracy closely related

As the Orange Democratic Movement marked its 20th anniversary, the festivities were overshadowed by an internal crisis. The party, a cornerstone of Kenyan opposition politics for two decades, finds itself at a crossroads.

The central conflict, which threatens to redefine its identity, pits proponents of continued engagement with President William Ruto’s administration against loyalists who believe the party’s soul lies in vocal, uncompromising opposition. The outcome of this struggle will very likely determine ODM’s fate, and could also set a precedent for the future of internal democracy within political parties.