The Hypocrisy of ODM Politicians: From Opposition to Enablers of the Status Quo
In the aftermath of the 2022 general elections, many Kenyans who supported the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) felt that the country had missed an opportunity for good governance, led by the party’s seasoned leader, Raila Odinga. Despite a hard-fought campaign, ODM was outshone by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, leading to the swearing-in of President William Ruto. As many hoped that the election loss would bring an invigorated, principled opposition, recent developments have caused some to rethink their optimism about ODM's role in shaping Kenya’s future. Perhaps the most shocking turn of events was Raila Odinga’s sudden rapprochement with President Ruto. What seemed like an unforgivable betrayal to ODM supporters, has since become a cornerstone of the political landscape, as Raila, once the face of a fierce opposition, has entered into a “handshake” agreement with the very man he had vigorously contested in the election. The ramifications of this politica...