Advocate Nelson Havi has emphasized the urgent need for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to uphold and continue the legacy of the late Raila Odinga, noting that a smooth transition of leadership is crucial for Kenya’s political stability.
Speaking during a morning breakfast show on Citizen tv, about the future of the party, Havi drew a comparison with Tanzania’s political history to highlight the dangers of disrupted leadership. He explained, “The need to pick up where Raila Odinga left off is urgent because in Tanzania, we had Nyerere, Mwinyi, and Kikwete. It was relatively calm for almost 40 years. Then boom, comes Magufuli and Samia Suluhu. Now Tanzania looks like a failed state.” Havi used this example to warn that without proper succession planning, even strong political systems can collapse.
He further pointed out that ODM is currently divided into two distinct groups — those committed to the ideals of the party and those driven by selfish ambition. “Within ODM, there are parasites, but there are also warriors like Edwin Sifuna, Caleb Amisi, and Babu Owino,” he said. He added that although there may be differing opinions about these individuals, they represent the true defenders of the movement’s founding principles.
Moreover, Havi argued that the so-called “parasites” within the party should be allowed to take charge temporarily so that they can learn from the consequences of their actions.
“The parasites in ODM should be allowed to take over, and even run it, because that is when they will understand the idiom: the greedy hyena that decided to enter into the belly of the dead buffalo, because it will be the birth of the new Kenya,” he remarked.
Havi’s remarks come at a time when discussions surrounding ODM’s leadership and the preservation of Raila Odinga’s political vision continue to dominate the national conversation. He concluded by implying that the way ODM manages this transition will determine whether Raila’s legacy endures or fades with time.
