The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has appealed to Kenyans to remain peaceful and avoid violence in the aftermath of the death of party leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna urged supporters to honour Raila’s memory by upholding the values he stood for — peace, unity, and respect for others.
Sifuna’s remarks followed reports of looting and vandalism in parts of Nairobi’s Central Business District, where police were forced to disperse crowds after several shops were broken into by suspected goons.
“We want to ask that everybody maintains peace. Before doing anything, ask yourself what Mzee would have wanted — what would make him proud,” Sifuna said.
“There is no need for chaos, destruction, or disrupting anyone’s business. That’s not what Raila Odinga stood for.”
Sifuna noted that many ODM leaders had spoken to Raila as recently as Tuesday, saying his sudden death came as a complete shock to the party and the nation.
He described Raila as a man who valued order and dialogue, urging Kenyans to express their grief with dignity.
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Sifuna also appealed to ODM supporters to avoid crowding Raila’s Karen residence, where Mama Ida Odinga has been receiving a constant stream of mourners.
“Our people must now stop going to Mama Ida’s house because she is overwhelmed,” he said. “We understand the love, but we are planning to set up designated areas where people can mourn Mzee across the country.”
The Secretary-General extended condolences to Raila’s family and apologised for the delay in confirming the news of his death earlier in the day, explaining that the party had chosen to wait for official communication from the head of state out of respect for Raila’s stature as a national leader.
“I want to take this opportunity to say pole to the ODM fraternity and the entire nation for the delay,” he said. “The news broke before we could make our own statement, but we had to wait for official confirmation.”
Sifuna reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to peaceful mourning and unity, calling on all Kenyans to celebrate Raila’s lifelong dedication to democracy, justice, and good governance.
