Raila Odinga Moves Fast: ODM Forms New Team to Fix Ruto Deal Issues and Protect Kenyan Youth

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has taken a bold step to make sure its agreement with President William Ruto’s UDA party actually works. On Tuesday, ODM announced that it is creating a technical team to help implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with UDA earlier this year. 

Speaking to the press, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said that the party had realized something important was missing: a dedicated team to follow up on the promises made in the MoU. “This committee will make sure we don’t just talk, but we act,” said Sifuna, standing beside party leader Raila Odinga and chairperson Gladys Wanga. 

Sifuna pointed out that the absence of a technical team has been the main reason why many points in the ten-point agenda of the MoU have not been fully carried out. The MoU had promised changes that would benefit millions of Kenyans, but progress has been slow. 

One of the biggest concerns for ODM is the slow implementation of the NADCO report (National Dialogue Committee). This report includes agreements on many issues that affect young people, especially their right to peacefully protest and gather. ODM believes this right is not being protected as it should be. 

Sifuna stressed that the technical team will work hand-in-hand with UDA’s own team to make the MoU work. “The absence of such a technical team has been the missing link in turning promises into action,” he said. 

But the team won’t just stop at youth rights and peaceful protests. Sifuna also said the team will look into corruption and misuse of public funds in the current government. “We want to fix the leaks in the system,” he said. 

ODM also made a strong call to increase the county allocation budget. The party wants counties to receive at least Ksh450 billion every year. This is part of their fight to improve services in health, education, roads, and other devolved sectors. 

The party urged the government to fully unbundle devolved functions and ensure that counties receive all the resources promised in the Constitution. ODM says counties can only function well if they are given the right tools and enough money. 

To tackle unemployment and economic hardships among the youth, ODM is backing an inter-generational national conference. This conference will bring together leaders from different age groups to find long-term solutions. 

These developments are happening at a time when there is visible tension within ODM itself. Some members are unhappy with how closely Raila Odinga is working with President Ruto. They feel that the ruling party is not respecting the MoU that was signed in March this year. 

In fact, some ODM members led by Edwin Sifuna have been openly critical of the Ruto administration. They say the government has not kept its promises, especially those concerning youth rights, national unity, and better service delivery. 

Despite these concerns, ODM says it will keep pushing for what is right. The technical team will help hold both sides accountable and ensure that the goals of the MoU are fully realized. 

Gladys Wanga, ODM’s national chair, said that this is not just about politics, but about making sure Kenyans benefit from agreements made at the top. “This team will track every promise and demand results,” she added. 

The ODM-UDA MoU had raised hopes earlier this year that political dialogue could replace street protests and constant conflict. But without action, many Kenyans feared it would become just another forgotten paper. 

Now, with the creation of this technical task force, ODM is trying to revive the dream and show that real change is possible. 

Whether this new move will heal the internal ODM divisions remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Raila Odinga and his team are not giving up on the MoU, and they want the government to take it seriously, too. 

This could mark a turning point in how Kenyan politics work, if both sides truly commit to cooperation, accountability, and service to the people.