CS Aden Duale Hails ODM’s 20-Year Legacy, Pays Tribute to Raila Odinga and Kenya’s Democratic Journey

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has lauded the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for its pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s democratic landscape over the past two decades, describing the party as the foundation upon which his political journey was first built.

In a statement marking ODM’s 20th anniversary, Duale reflected on his early political life, noting that he was among the party’s founding members—alongside President William Ruto—when it opened its doors twenty years ago. He credited the party for giving him his first elective platform in 2007, when he entered Parliament as the MP for Dujis Constituency.

Duale said that although political alliances have shifted over time, and he now serves under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), democracy has remained the constant guiding principle in his public life.

He paid a deeply personal and emotional tribute to the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, describing him as the embodiment of Kenya’s fight for democratic space.

“When we speak of democracy in this country, we speak the name of one man who lived for it, suffered for it and insisted that no Kenyan should ever fear their own voice. Baba carried the weight of the nation, bled for its freedoms and stood firm even when he stood alone,” Duale said.

He emphasized that Kenya must continue protecting the democratic freedoms that Raila fought for throughout his life, noting that the former Prime Minister’s sacrifices remain etched in the country’s political fabric.

Duale commended President Ruto’s stewardship of democracy, saying the President had added a new dimension to governance by matching democratic values with effective service delivery.

“Democracy must speak and Delivery must answer. That is the Kenya we are now building—a country where freedoms are protected and services reach the people,” he said.

As ODM marks two decades, Duale acknowledged the party’s role in nurturing leaders, expanding democratic space, and shaping political discourse. He said that political colours may change—orange marking his entry into politics and yellow representing his current party—but the ideals remain aligned.

“Orange shaped my early steps, Yellow guides my work today. These colours are not opposites; they carry the same hope, just in different shades. Yellow might be the future we saw in Orange,” he remarked.

Duale concluded by congratulating ODM for its 20 years of “struggle, sacrifice and steadfast belief in democracy,” saying the party’s legacy will remain a central part of Kenya’s political story.