NAIROBI — Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has opened up about his intertwined political journey with the party that launched his career while paying homage to its iconic leader, the late Raila Odinga on Friday.
“For the Record,” Duale titled his reflective statement, reminiscing how ODM’s founding two decades ago ignited his passion for public service. “When ODM opened its doors twenty years ago, we, including H.E. President William Ruto, were among the founder and ranking members who believed that Kenya deserved a wider democratic horizon and a louder, freer voice,” Duale wrote.
It was through ODM that Duale first entered Parliament in 2007 representing Dujis Constituency in Garissa County. Though his path later diverged—now proudly serving under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner—Duale emphasized an unchanging core: democracy. “It is the thread that has stitched together every chapter of my public life,” he said.
At the heart of his message was a profound eulogy to Odinga, whom he affectionately called “Baba.” Duale described Odinga’s life as “a long walk through sacrifice, bruising battles and unending courage.” He recalled moments when Odinga “bled so that the rest of us could breathe freely,” standing firm even in isolation or injury. “Even when we disagreed, even when the country wavered, he did not,” Duale noted.
Odinga’s death earlier this year cast a shadow over Kenyan politics, but Duale urged the nation to honor his legacy by safeguarding democratic spaces. “And now, even in death, we owe him the same thing he fought for all his life: The protection of our democratic space.”
As ODM celebrates its milestone—born from the ashes of post-election unrest in 2005 and evolving into a powerhouse shaping opposition and coalitions—Duale positioned himself not as a distant observer, but a “grateful beneficiary.” The party, he said, provided his “first platform of service,” a debt he acknowledged with humility.
Duale also nodded to President Ruto’s administration, blending ODM’s democratic ethos with UDA’s focus on governance. “H.E. President William Samoei Ruto, too, has held high the value of Democracy, but he has also added a new weight to that letter D: Delivery. Democracy must speak and Delivery must answer.”
‘For the Record,’ my journey in politics is intertwined with the birth and growth of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
When ODM opened its doors twenty years ago, we, including H.E. President @WilliamsRuto, were among the founder and ranking members who believed that Kenya… pic.twitter.com/JviodOpJ17
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) November 14, 2025
In a poetic flourish, Duale likened political affiliations to colors on a canvas: ODM’s orange for his early steps, UDA’s yellow for today. “These colours are not opposites. They carry the same hope, just in different shades. Yellow might be the future we saw in Orange!”
ODM’s anniversary events, including rallies in Nairobi and Kisumu, drew thousands, underscoring the party’s enduring influence amid Kenya’s fluid alliances. Party leader Edwin Sifuna hailed Duale’s words as a “bridge-building moment,” signaling potential for cross-aisle unity.
Duale’s reflections come at a time when health reforms under his ministry—expanding universal coverage—align with Ruto’s “Bottom-Up” agenda. Yet, they also evoke nostalgia for ODM’s radical roots, a reminder that Kenya’s democracy thrives on such shared histories.
“Happy 20th Anniversary to the Orange Democratic Movement; two decades of struggle, sacrifice and steadfast belief in our democracy!” Duale concluded, encapsulating a career forged in orange, now blooming in yellow.
