The ODM party has announced it will launch a leadership academy in honour of Raila Odinga, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
Gladys Wanga, the party’s national chairperson, made the revelation on Monday, September 22, 2025, during a Parliamentary Group meeting held in Machakos.
She noted that the academy would celebrate Raila’s legacy in nurturing youthful leadership.
“One of the things we will be launching during the youth event leadership is the launch of the Raila Odinga Academy in Leadership. We will launch the Raila Odinga Academy in leadership to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this party. Raila himself will lead the launch during our youth event in Mombasa,” she stated.
It is worth noting that, as part of nurturing youth leadership, Raila urged the youth to join the ODM party so that when the 2027 elections come, ODM would be the party to form the government.
Wanga hailed the veteran politician’s role in guiding the party through its 202 years of existence.
“We thank our party leader, Baba Raila Amolo Odinga, for visionary leadership in ODM. It is not as easy as other speakers have alluded. Baba has steered ODM to greater heights in 202 years. We commit to continue to push as a PG and as a party to continue to remain strong,” she added.
The development comes days after the party recognised Raila’s leadership in Wajir, where a section of the party members of parliament (MPs) hailed the ODM supremo and the party’s role in nurturing women leadership.
Led by Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, the lawmakers demanded that Raila should be given the respect he deserves for his role in guiding one of Kenya’s oldest political parties.
“We are glad to belong to the Orange party. A party that unites all Kenyans and one that has decided to put Kenyans’ interests first. Baba is a leader of foresight. He recently joined hands with the government for the peace and stability of the nation. Therefore, we need to respect him as the party leader. He is a leader with foresight and one who must command our respect,” she stated.
Her sentiments were echoed by MP Eve Obara and Fatuma Mohammed, who equally praised the ODM party and its leader, Raila Odinga.
On her part, Busia Women representative Catherine Omanyo called for establishing a legacy of devolution that Raila would be proud of.
“Devolution is also an offspring of Baba. So let us ensure that we continue making the party stand strong by electing leaders from the party at all levels,” she implored.
