Orange Democratic Movement

Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya refers to a political party in Kenya, which originated as a result of the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. It grew out of the Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya (ODM).

It is headed by Kalonzo Musyoka, who ran for president in 2007 and now serves as the vice-president in the GNU of Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga.

2007 elections

Main article: Orange Democratic Movement

The present ODM-K was created out of a split between Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga in mid-August 2007.^[1]. Raila's group, which also included Musalia Mudavadi, William Ruto, Joseph Nyagah and Najib Balala bought out the original ODM party from Mugambi Imanyara, while Kalonzo's group, consisting of himself and Dr. Julia Ojiambo remained in the shell of ODM-Kenya. The two factions held their elections for presidential candidate on consecutive days at the Kasarani sports complex in Nairobi. On 31 August 2007, Kalonzo Musyoka defeated Julia Ojiambo for the ODM–Kenya ticket. On September 1 Raila Odinga was selected the ODM presidential candidate. Raila and Kalonzo faced president Kibaki in the general election. Kalonzo took a distant third place, but in January 2008 he became vice-president of Kenya under Kibaki, whose victory was disputed by Raila Odinga and the ODM. Following the 2007-2008 Kenyan crisis,which resulted in a great loss of life, a government of national unity was formed between Kibaki's PNU and Odinga's ODM, with Musyoka retaining his position as vice-president. So far, Musyoka is one of two ODM-K in the cabinet, with Mutula Kilonzo as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as his faction received very little support in the parliamentary election.

Political Parties Act

In December of 2008 ODM-Kenya held party elections to comply with the recently passed Political Parties Act ^[2]. In mid 2011 the party changed its colours and symbol in order to differentiate itself from Raila Odinga's ODM party and is believed to be a central cog in a proposed political alliance intended to present a unified front against Raila in the 2012 general elections.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Opposition in Kenya splits in two", BBC News, August 15, 2007
2. ^ Only fortyeight political parties have been cleared since the act came into force http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144002455&cid=4
3. ^ http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000042124&cid=4

External links

• 2007 Manifesto
• 2007 Parliamentary Candidates