"ODM Belongs To The People" Winnie Odinga Says During The Party's 20th Anniversary In Mombasa
East African Legislative Assembly Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga has re-emerged on the national stage with a commanding presence during the Orange Democratic Movement’s twentieth anniversary celebrations in Mombasa on Friday, November 14, 2025.
It was her first public appearance since the death of her father, Raila Odinga, and her arrival at the event immediately transformed the atmosphere.
Winnie, who was clad in an ODM t-shirt, was invited to the podium by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, and the moment her name was mentioned, the crowd erupted into prolonged cheers that swept across the venue.
In her speech, Winnie began by thanking Kenyans who stood with her family during the difficult days following her father’s passing.
She said she had come to express deep gratitude for the messages of condolence sent to her, adding that the nation’s shared sorrow had strengthened her resolve.
“Long live ODM. I can hear that many of you have been looking for me, and today you have found me. First, I would like to say thank you. You all know that I am a leader who does not speak often. There is a time to speak and a time to work, and I know the difference,” Samia said.
She also paid special tribute to the women of ODM, saying their prayers and encouragement helped her gather the strength to attend the event.
“I would like to thank all of you for standing with us when we lost Baba. I know that because of that, we are all carrying a deep sadness. Today I take this moment to appreciate all the young people of ODM. I have received your messages of condolence, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much. I would also like to thank the women of ODM. The women of ODM prayed for me so that I could leave home, come here, and meet with you,” Winnie said.
She then shifted into a broader reflection on the essence of ODM, saying the party has remained anchored in its foundational spirit.
She described ODM as a movement born from protest, raised in resistance, and sustained by public conviction.
She said the party’s twenty-year journey had been marked by sacrifice, courage, and a relentless commitment to national transformation.
“ODM was born from protest, raised in resistance, and it still belongs to the people. It has been the heartbeat of the Kenyan people for twenty years. ODM was born from protest, it was raised in resistance, and the people of ODM have time and time again bled, sweated, and shed tears for this country called Kenya,” she added.
Addressing the party’s critics, she said ODM recognises its imperfections but has never abandoned its duty to defend the public interest.
She dismissed the long-standing notion that the party is unruly, saying what some perceive as chaos is the natural turbulence of nation-building.
She emphasised that nation-building is often uncomfortable, inconvenient, and messy, and she said ODM members have repeatedly borne that burden with tears, sweat, and determination.
“We are sorry that we do not always get it right. But we will never be sorry for being inconvenient. They like to call us a party of goons. What we are doing is nation-building. Nation-building is untidy. Nation-building is inconvenient. Nation-building is uncomfortable. Nation-building has left us in tears, as ODM, as a people’s party, time and time again. But we ODM belong to the people, and we will continue growing because the young people of ODM have conviction,” she said.
