ODM Youth League Endorses Intergenerational Dialogue, Calls for Sincere National Reflection

By Bruno Aero

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Youth League has thrown its support behind party leader Raila Odinga’s call for an Intergenerational National Conclave, describing it as a crucial opportunity for “truthful, courageous, and purpose-driven” national dialogue amid rising youth frustration and political unrest.

During a press briefing held in Nairobi on Saturday, the youth leaders warned that Kenya stands at a defining moment, marked by increasing marginalization of young people, escalating police violence, and growing public disillusionment with national leadership.

“We’ve been reduced to statistics, slogans, and spectators in a system that no longer listens,” read a joint statement signed by ODM Youth League officials Davis Oluoch Odhiambo, Esther Gitaranga, Commiser Jared, and Charity Nkontai. “We feel sidelined, dismissed, and silenced by those in power.”

Their remarks follow Odinga’s July 7 proposal to convene an Intergenerational Conclave — a national platform intended to unite citizens across generational, social, and political divides to address Kenya’s pressing challenges.

The League drew on Kenya’s history of pivotal dialogue moments — from the 1963 independence struggle to the return of multiparty democracy in 1991 and the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution — to stress the urgency of honest national introspection.

“Some may ask how we can engage with a government accused of shedding the blood of our peers. But we respond: why not? Why not confront the system head-on and tell our truth?” the statement posed.

In preparation for the dialogue, the Youth League laid out 14 critical areas of concern for national discussion — ranging from soaring youth unemployment and inadequate education systems, to police reform, gender equity, devolution, and growing ethnic divisions.

They also highlighted the daily struggles of young people in informal settlements, pervasive joblessness, sexual exploitation in workplaces, and the waning morale among civil servants, especially teachers and police officers.

While welcoming the initiative, the League issued a cautionary note against turning the conclave into a performative or politicized event. They emphasized the need for authenticity and warned that orchestrated spectacles would only deepen public skepticism.

“Let this not be another PR show or a baraza filled with applause and photo ops,” they warned. “It must not become a stage for political fixers or handpicked youth. Kenya cannot afford more empty theater.”

Instead, they called for meaningful inclusion, urging participation from young people of all backgrounds — rural and urban, male and female, across faiths — as active contributors to shaping the country’s destiny.

Closing on a patriotic note, the League quoted the national anthem and paid homage to historic figures like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Wangari Maathai.

“We fly the same flag, sing the same anthem, and share the same aspirations,” they said. “The young man in Kisumu wants what the girl in Kirinyaga wants: quality education, dignified work, a safe environment, good governance, and a just society.”

They praised Raila Odinga for his continued leadership in times of national crisis and called for divine guidance as the country prepares for what they described as a potential turning point in its democratic evolution.

The Intergenerational National Conclave is expected to bring together youth leaders, civil society organizations, political figures, and government representatives in a collective effort to reimagine Kenya’s future.