Night Raila Odinga Visited Dandora to Meet ODM Founder

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will mark its twentieth anniversary in Mombasa this weekend, honouring both its prominent leaders and the lesser-known figures who helped shape its foundation.

Among them is Jane Wangui Muringi, whose early role in establishing the party was crucial but has received little public recognition. Her story is closely linked to that of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose death last month has lent a reflective tone to the upcoming celebrations.

In 2005, following the constitutional referendum, Ms Muringi became ODM’s first secretary-general. Her appointment stemmed from principle rather than political bargaining. She recalls how Mr Odinga visited her unexpectedly in Dandora with political strategist Tony Gachoka. For a young woman from Nairobi’s informal settlements, the meeting proved life-changing.

That evening, Mr Odinga took her on a drive around the city, explaining why her involvement mattered. Ms Muringi held the legal registration of the party, secured with lawyer Mugambi Imanyara. Mr Odinga saw this as the cornerstone of his reformist agenda. Ms Muringi agreed to hand over the party rights without requesting money or position, seeking instead a partnership based on shared ideals of change.

After resigning as secretary-general, she was succeeded by Tony Chege but remained within the party as Secretary for Special Programmes. During the Grand Coalition Government, she served as Youth Adviser to the Prime Minister, a role she attributes to Mr Odinga’s mentorship and trust. 

“To me, I met a father,” she said, describing him as both a guide and confidant who shaped her political path.

The anniversary gathering in Mombasa holds particular meaning for Ms Muringi. On 30 September, she received a letter from Mr Odinga inviting her to the ODM@20 event and commending her “intellectual energy and pioneering vision” as a founder. Although his death delayed the celebration, acting party leader Dr Oburu Odinga has reaffirmed her place among the party’s originators, extending a renewed invitation to the commemorative dinner at Sarova Whitesands Hotel.

Ms Muringi has faced challenges in her political career, contesting the Embakasi North parliamentary seat unsuccessfully in 2017 and 2022. She now serves as Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Markets and Trade, continuing her work in public service. Her commitment to ODM remains firm, and she believes the party can remain united and resilient under Dr Oburu’s leadership.