ODM leader Oburu Oginga (centre), Chairperson Gladys Wanga (left) and Deputy Party leader Abdulswamad Nassir (right) campaign for their party candidate in the November 27 Magarini by-election Harrison Kombe, on November 2, 2025.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is working to retain support in the Coast region, as one of its major strongholds, following the death of party leader Raila Odinga.
The party’s leadership began a tour of the Coast at the weekend, focusing on Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Senator Mohamed Faki and other elected leaders from the region vowed to ensure that the popularity of the party remains intact.
They spoke during a Coast ODM delegates’ meeting in Mombasa, which was attended by interim party leader Dr Oburu Oginga.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga (left) and their party candidate in the November 27 Magarini by-election, Harrison Kombe, on November 2 2025.
"As a party, we remain firmly united and focused on strengthening our grassroots structures in readiness for the forthcoming elections. In Mombasa, our commitment is clear: to ensure ODM sweeps all elective seats by championing the values that define us—good governance, strong devolution, democracy, and respect for human rights,” Mr Nassir said.
By-election
On Sunday, the leaders drummed up support for the party’s candidate for the November 27 Magarini by-election, Mr Harrison Kombe, who will be looking to reclaim his seat. Mr Kombe lost the seat after the court nullified his election last year.
Raila enjoyed massive support in nearly all the six coastal counties. But following his death on October 15 in India, political pundits at the Coast are divided on the future of the party in the region.
Political analyst Stephen Odiagga said support for ODM is likely to stay intact for now since no influential local leader, who was close to Raila, has shown intention of jumping ship.
“I don’t think any party will benefit from Raila’s absence. That also depends on how ODM leaders in the region will galvanise the party,” said Mr Odiagga.
During the 2022 polls, apart from Mombasa which elected mostly ODM candidates, the party was shaken in other counties. Raila got majority of the presidential votes,but parties such as Pamoja African Alliance, Wiper, and Dr Ruto's United Democratic Alliance made inroads in Kilifi, Taita-Taveta and Kwale counties.
ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga campaigns for their party candidate in the November 27 Magarini by-election Harrison Kombe, on November 2 2025.
At the advent of devolution in 2013, four governors out of six were ODM members: Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), and John Mruttu (Taita Taveta). Lamu’s Issa Timamy and Tana River’s Hussein Dado were elected through the United Democratic Forum Party (UDF) and Wiper, respectively.
Gubernatorial seats
In 2022, ODM won gubernatorial seats in Mombasa, Kilifi, and Tana River but lost to the Amani National Congress (ANC) in Lamu, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Kwale, and independent candidate Andrew Mwadime in Taita Taveta. Mr Mwadime had defected from ODM, citing a lack of transparency and fairness in nominating a candidate.
Kwale County ODM chairperson Mr Sammy Ruwa said the region is privileged because one of the deputy party leaders, Governor Nassir, comes from the area. Mr Ruwa said the challenge for him is to rise and steer the party alongside other leaders.
“ODM is the only party that has structures all the way to the polling station. The party’s influence is still there in the region, and we will build on it. I don’t see a lot of fallouts,” said Mr Ruwa.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga (centre), Chairperson Gladys Wanga (fourth left), Abdulswamad Nassir (fifth right) and other party officials campaign for their party candidate Harrison Kombe (far right) on November 2, 2025.
However, political analyst Mr Kauli Mwatela said the future of the region without Mr Odinga hangs in the balance, as he has left behind many political orphans. He explained that leaders in the region depended on Raila's nod in their quest for elective positions and political survival.
“At the moment, they have no one to defend them politically here in the region or nationally; they have to fight for themselves,” said Mr Mwatela.
Mr Mwatela added that ODM’s political future in the region has been weakened since those perceived to be the region’s party leaders are not united.
Raila was a darling of the Coastal people for pushing for land reforms and devolution, both critical needs in the region. Since ODM was formed about 20 years ago, many of its members have been appointed to various government positions, including the Cabinet.
Among them is former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who is currently the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs. CS Joho said it is difficult for anyone to break the bond between former Prime Minister Odinga and the people of the Kenyan Coast.
“People sometimes ask me why the people of Coast love Baba (Raila), and it is because there is a serious historical background of our relations that not everybody can understand,” he said.
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