According to Wahome, the Orange Movement was born during the 2005 constitutional referendum, where those opposed to the proposed draft constitution rallied under the Orange symbol representing the “No” side. After the referendum, the Orange team sought to formalize their movement into a political party.
However, Wahome disclosed that the ODM party name had already been registered by a lawyer known as Wakili Mugambi, who refused to surrender it easily. As a result, the group that included Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta, and William Ruto initially adopted the name ODM-Kenya to continue their political agenda.
Later, Wahome revealed, Raila Odinga eventually bought the ODM party from Mugambi, making it his political vehicle ahead of the 2007 general elections. Meanwhile, Kalonzo Musyoka retained ODM-Kenya, which later became the Wiper Democratic Movement.
The revelation has reignited interest in the origins and ownership of one of Kenya’s most influential political parties, shedding light on how Raila secured the ODM name that went on to define his political career.
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