While festivities to mark 20 years since the formation of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are in full swing, with Kenyans gathering in Mombasa County to honour the life and legacy of founder Raila Odinga.
Unbeknownst to many, however, deep in ODM's history is one Jane Wangui, who made a quiet but crucial decision which arguably helped shape Kenya's political landscape over the past two decades.
Wangui, who now serves as Nairobi County's Chief Officer for Markets and Trade, was one of the unsung figures back in 2005 who laid the legal groundwork for the formation of ODM.
In a recent interview, Wangui revealed she joined hands with lawyer Mugambi Imanyara to register ODM at a time when political reforms in Kenya were garnering momentum.
Her motivation to venture into politics is rooted in her background, as she recalled watching firsthand how her former estate, Dandora, grappled with poor infrastructure and governance.
The Defining Move
During the heated atmosphere at the height of the 2005 constitutional referendum, the country was divided into two camps, where orange represented a "No" to the referendum, while the 'Yes' faction was represented by a banana. The Orange movement gained unprecedented momentum, with Raila seeking to align a legally registered entity which would carry his vision for a party forward.
Wangui, in an interview in her office, narrated how she collaborated with Imanyara to register ODM as a political party. At the time, there was not much hype around the fairly new political outfit, with Wangui taking a position as Secretary General.
However, according to her, things took a turning point after a pivotal conversation with the late Raila Odinga.
“One evening, an acquaintance called and told me he (Raila) was outside my door and wanted to see me, only for me to find H.E. Raila Odinga waiting outside my house in a car. When I got to the car, he told me that I had something he needed for the ODM Party,” Wangui recounts.
Despite being among the founding members of the Orange Democratic Movement, Wangui admitted that she did not think twice about surrendering the outfit to Raila since he had far-reaching influence in the country. Raila's fiery fight for reforms was also a key motivator for Wangui to surrender her role in the party in the early stages.
She eventually took the leap of faith and allowed Professor Anyang’ Nyong’o to take over as party Secretary General and was instead appointed Secretary for Special Programmes under the party's new structure.
As it turns out, that one act ended up turning the course of Kenya's political landscape, as without Wangui's registration of ODM, the outfit would never have been legally registered as a party.
Years on, ODM became the platform behind the fierce fight for the 2007-2010 constitutional reforms, devolution and civil liberties, which defined what historians have described as Kenya's second liberation.
Over the years, Wangui has maintained an unwavering support towards ODM, and admitted it was at times a tall order, particularly when ODM was facing political challenges.
“I have never betrayed Baba. Even when it became politically costly to be associated with him because I come from Mt. Kenya, I remained proud to stand with him. To me, he is the greatest man to have walked on Kenyan soil," she reiterated.
Notably, Wangui served as Raila's Youth Affairs Advisor when he was Prime Minister . She also unsuccessfully contested on an ODM ticket for the Embakasi North parliamentary seat.
ODM celebrations
As far as ODM festivities are concerned, the party's Executive Director, Oduor Ong'wen revealed the anniversary had shifted from a jubilee to a commemoration.
The three-day celebrations will take place at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa and will also honour the late Raila Odinga with tributes from leaders including Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
