ODM at 20: Woman Reveals How She Gave Orange Party to Raila Free of Charge

Amos Khaemba, a reporter for okay1.co.ke, has more than three years of expertise in reporting on politics and contemporary issues in Kenya. ...

Amos Khaemba, a reporter for okay1.co.ke, has more than three years of expertise in reporting on politics and contemporary issues in Kenya.

Nairobi– As the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party celebrates twenty years since its establishment, many are unaware of the woman who played a key role in laying its foundation in 2005, Jane Wangui.

Currently working as the County Chief Officer for Markets and Trade, Wangui is considered one of the unrecognized builders of Kenya's most powerful opposition party.

Who is Jane Wangui?

Her path, beginning in the slums of Dandora and leading into the halls of political history, is marked by determination, belief, and a vision to represent those who have no voice.

Wangui shared with okay1.co.ke, 'I witnessed inequality everywhere during my childhood — dilapidated roads, insufficient food, and inadequate access to education and healthcare. This motivated me to seek change via governance.'

In 2005, fueled by youthful enthusiasm and inspired by a dream of justice and equality, Wangui collaborated with attorney Mugambi Imanyara to establish a new political group, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Wangui stated that her goal was straightforward yet courageous: to establish a space for regular Kenyans, particularly the youth and those on the margins, to engage in leadership roles.

"I brought forth a new political movement, and Raila infused it with vitality, soon transforming Kenya's political scene," she states. Wangui was not only a co-founder but also served as the first Secretary General of ODM.

She described how one night, the late former prime minister Raila Odinga came to her home in Dandora to request that she step down from the party.

"One night, a friend called and said he was at my door, wanting to see me. Upon arriving, I discovered H.E. Raila Odinga waiting outside in a vehicle. When I approached the car, he informed me that I possessed something he required—the ODM Party," she recalled.

Acknowledging Raila's progressive mindset, Wangui chose to transfer the party's leadership to him without demanding any compensation.

"He said to me, 'name your price. What do you need?' Yes, I was just beginning my life and I needed many things, but I told him, 'no. I don't need money.' My relationship with him was about transformation, and the only thing I asked of him was that we collaborate," she said.

After the agreement was officially finalized, she resigned from her position as Secretary General to enable Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o to assume the role, and she was subsequently named Secretary for Special Programmes within the party's National Executive Council.

Baba named her as his Youth Affairs Advisor during his tenure as prime minister, a position that solidified her power within the group.

Although she failed to secure the Embakasi North parliamentary seat in 2017 and 2022, she continues to show strong commitment to ODM's principles.

Raila recognized potential in me that no one else had noticed. He was my guiding force. Two months ago, during lunch, Baba expressed his pride in me and continuously directed my thoughts towards 2027. Who could have imagined that a young woman from Dandora would be chosen by God to establish the most significant political party in East and Central Africa?

"I have never betrayed Baba. I am still proud to be linked with him, even though it has come at a political price due to my Mt. Kenya background. He is the finest Kenyan, and his actions are for the country's benefit," she stated.

For Wangui, the upcoming ODM@20 celebration in Mombasa is more than a political gathering; it's a significant personal achievement.

"This festival signifies my path from Dandora to becoming a national leader. ODM provided me with a voice, direction, and influenced my life, contributing to my development and Kenya's progress. Interacting with Raila Odinga made one feel acknowledged and appreciated. As a woman, he offered me chances, having faith in my abilities. I attribute my achievements to him," she said.