{
  "id": 15463204,
  "title": "ODM leaders rally behind Ruto in Garissa, vow to preserve Raila’s legacy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/odm-leaders-rally-behind-ruto-in-garissa-vow-to-preserve-railas-legacy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T17:55:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/odm-leaders-rally-behind-ruto-in-garissa-vow-to-preserve-railas-legacy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has been working to strengthen its support in North Eastern Kenya. At a gathering in Garissa, party leaders called on members to uphold the ODM's national identity and back its candidates in upcoming elections. They agreed that the presidency is the sole position the party is willing to cede in its political collaboration with President Ruto. During these discussions, leaders emphasised that Raila Odinga, the party's founding leader and former Prime Minister, had established a robust political movement that its successors must nurture and expand. They defended ODM's role in the inclusive government arrangement alongside President Ruto, arguing that the partnership would further the principles of inclusion, equality, and equitable development that Raila advocated for. ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, along with other senior officials, pledged to field candidates in the 2027 elections and support Ruto's re-election, while also seeking to win other positions on the ODM ticket. Deputy party leader Abdulswamad Sharif Nasir urged party members to maintain unity and preserve the party's extensive reach across Kenya. He emphasised that ODM's long-standing presence and sacrifice required continued support. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed highlighted that UDA could not govern independently and that ODM remained crucial to the broad-based government arrangement. ODM's organising secretary-general, Ahmed Abdullahi, reaffirmed the party's association with the government and reassured aspirants about the nomination process for the 2027 elections.",
  "summary": "The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has intensified efforts to consolidate its grassroots support in North Eastern Kenya. The leaders, who converged in Garissa town during the party’s nationwide Mwezi wa Baba initiative, called on members to strengthen ODM, defend its national identity and rally behind its candidates in the next elections, with the presidency being […] The post ODM leaders rally…",
  "key_points": [
    "ODM leaders rally in Garissa to support Ruto for presidency.",
    "Party pledges to field candidates in 2027 elections.",
    "ODM emphasizes preserving Raila Odinga’s political legacy."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}