ODM Youth League: ‘We Want Power’ As Young Politicians Push For Bigger Role In 2027

Story by Evans Mutinda, Violet Kerubo  & Monyonge O’kebati

Newly installed ODM Youth League president Roselyne Alionya has declared that young people will no longer remain spectators in the party’s affairs, demanding a bigger role in decision-making, policy formulation and the sharing of political opportunities ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Alionya, speaking after taking over the youth leadership position, said the younger generation must move beyond mobilising crowds for politicians and instead become thinkers, researchers, policy contributors, communicators and leaders.
“We are not here as a generation that will wait for leadership to be handed to us. We are the generation that must prepare, organise ourselves and take our rightful place in the leadership of this party and this country,” she said.

She said ODM must change the practice of relying on young people for numbers during political campaigns while excluding them from key decisions.
“Young people must have a place in the conversations that shape policy, manifestos, campaigns and the future direction of our country,” Alionya said.

Her remarks come as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with youth unemployment, the cost of living and access to political opportunities remaining major issues among young Kenyans.
Alionya challenged ODM youth to shed the stereotype that young people in politics are merely political goons, saying the party should instead cultivate young leaders capable of serving in county assemblies, Parliament, government institutions and the private sector.
“We must reclaim our identity from the stereotype of young people in the political space as goons,” she said.

She urged young people to demonstrate competence, discipline, integrity and commitment to public service while building careers and contributing to national development.
Alionya also called for deliberate efforts to identify and utilise young talent within ODM, citing debaters, mobilisers, researchers, photographers, videographers, writers, bloggers and digital communicators as an important resource ahead of 2027.

YOUTH DEMAND SHARE OF POWER

The new ODM youth boss also waded into the ongoing debate over political power-sharing, demanding that young people receive a significant share of opportunities under any future government arrangement.
“As conversations continue around the 50-50 government sharing in the broad-based arrangement, as youth, we are also asking the party to consider us in that 50 per cent,” she said.
Alionya said young people should be considered in the distribution of both national and county opportunities after the 2027 election.

She argued that youth participation should extend beyond voter mobilisation to actual representation in government and political institutions.
“We will look for the vote. We will ensure we are registered as voters and as members of the political party. But also the party must promise us that when the discussion on sharing of opportunities, the percentage of young people should also be higher,” she said.

GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION.
Alionya outlined an ambitious programme of youth consultations and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election, including county-by-county outreach and engagements in universities, TVET institutions and colleges.
She said the youth league would also undertake youth registration, policy and leadership forums, civic education, member recruitment and grassroots organisation within the law.

The ODM youth leadership will also push for transparent and accessible nomination processes for young people seeking elective positions.
Alionya said the party has a large pool of young people capable of contributing to its manifesto and policy development, but that the necessary platforms have not always been available.
“We want to create this space to attract more young people to come and debate, to give their ideas,” she said.

She also acknowledged the contribution of ODM founder Raila Odinga and previous generations to Kenya’s democratic struggle, but said young people must now create their own political chapter.
“Every generation must write its own chapter, and that’s why we are here to write our own chapter,” she said.
Alionya said the youth should not only ask what the party can offer them, but also what they can contribute to strengthening ODM at the grassroots.

“Our responsibility cannot begin and end with asking what the party is giving us. We must also ask: what are we giving to the party?” she said.
She concluded by telling young Kenyans that they should not view themselves merely as the future of ODM but as active participants in the party’s present and its political direction.