ODM Youth League rejects rival leadership claim, backs John Mark Ketora

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The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Youth League has rejected claims by Roseline Alionya that she has taken over the leadership of the party’s youth wing, setting the stage for a fresh leadership dispute within the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Alionya declared herself president of the ODM Youth League, claiming she had occupied a position she said had remained vacant for nine years. She further alleged that those previously occupying the position had exceeded the constitutional age limit for youth leadership.

However, the rival faction led by John Mark Ketora, President of the ODM Party Youth League, disputes Roseline claim and maintains that the youth league has an established leadership structure. The development has raised questions over who has the legitimate mandate to speak on behalf of ODM youth.

Alionya said young people should no longer wait for leadership opportunities to be handed to them, calling for greater participation in the party’s decision-making structures. She argued that the youth should move beyond being used primarily as supporters and mobilisers and instead take up roles in policy development, research, communication and leadership.

But the Ketora-led camp is expected to challenge what it views as an attempt to create a parallel youth leadership structure outside the party’s recognised framework. The dispute comes at a time when ODM is seeking to strengthen its grassroots structures and prepare its membership for the 2027 electoral contest.

 Alionya also outlined plans for youth consultations, county outreach programmes, campus and college engagements, grassroots registration and policy forums. She said the programmes would target young people between 18 and 35, including students, entrepreneurs, job seekers, professionals, creatives, activists and aspiring political leaders.

She further called for young people to be given a greater role in determining ODM's policies and nominations, while urging the party to consider the youth when sharing political opportunities under the broad-based government arrangement. She argued that young people should receive a meaningful share of opportunities at both national and county levels.

The leadership contest also comes with competing views on the role of the youth in ODM. While Roseline says young people must demand greater representation, the Ketora-led leadership maintains its position as the recognised youth leadership and is likely to face the latest challenge as the party moves towards its 2027 preparations.

The dispute now places the ODM youth wing at the centre of an internal contest over leadership, representation and the direction of young members in the party. With the 2027 elections approaching, the rival positions could intensify calls for clarity on the party's official youth leadership and the processes through which its leaders are recognised.

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