The Standard newspaper has issued a scathing response to ODM leader Raila Odinga following his criticism of a headline that pointed at him among the “Betrayers of Gen Z.”
The editorial, published over the weekend, defended the paper’s stance, accusing Raila of remaining silent in the face of growing state excesses under the Kenya Kwanza administration—a government he is now seen to support.
“Isn't it a betrayal that Raila says nothing while the government he now supports continues to break the law, ignore court orders, allow corruption, silence independent media, give shoot-to-kill orders against innocent people, and waste public funds like spending hundreds of millions on dozens of unnecessary presidential advisers?” the paper questioned, suggesting that the veteran opposition leader had failed to live up to his own legacy.
The editorial further accused the current administration of treating ordinary Kenyans with contempt. It stated that the government had resorted to abducting and torturing its citizens and decried Raila’s silence over such grave matters.
“So, what more proof is needed for Raila and ODM to see that many Kenyans now view them as betrayers?” the paper posed, arguing that Raila had grown out of touch with the frustration and anger expressed by a generation demanding justice and accountability.
In a more personal charge, the publication alleged that Raila’s close associates and family members were benefiting from high-level government appointments—signs of nepotism and cronyism, it claimed.
The editorial urged the ODM leader to walk away from what it termed a "mess" and take a firm stand on issues affecting the country. “If Raila doesn’t want to be part of this mess, then he should walk away. He should speak out clearly and strongly, not issue weak, confusing statements that only show he is enjoying his place at President Ruto’s table.”
The editorial concluded by calling on Raila to demand legal accountability, warning that his continued silence would be viewed as a betrayal of the democratic values he once stood for. “If he does not, then he is betraying the very values he has said he spent his life fighting for—a good name, the rule of law, equality, and opportunity for all. These are the same values that Gen Z are now standing up for, which is why they feel so deeply betrayed.”
Last Monday, the ODM party slammed the publication, which has in recent months been running blistering newspaper headlines against the government and its perceived associations, maintaining that it has a hidden agenda to force Raila into forcing the party to support the political positions of the ownership of the media outlet.
According to ODM, it was misleading and unfair for the publication to label them as betrayers, especially given the historical context of last year’s Gen Z protests.
The party noted that the demonstrations were a spontaneous movement by young Kenyans demanding their rights—particularly the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024—and were not aligned to any political formation or leader.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the party defended its leader against criticism from The Standard headline titled Gen Z Betrayers, which suggested that Odinga's decision to collaborate with the government—alongside activist Kasmuel McOure—was a betrayal of the youth movement. ODM dismissed the label as misguided and reiterated its support for the protests.
