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The Orange Democratic Movement National Youth League president John Ketora has been nominated to the National Assembly.
Ketora’s nomination was announced by the party’s top leadership led by deputy party leader and Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi, Siaya Governor James Orengo, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Kisumu Woman representative Ruth Odinga, on Wednesday.
They said Ketora’s nomination to parliament was executed following Finance CS John Mbadi’s appointment to the broad-based government.
“This demonstrates that the top leadership of this party is committed to having a stronger and more vibrant youth league. So, I’m here to represent the top leadership and my other two deputy party leaders to say that as the top leadership of the party, we will support the youth league to be what it should be,” Osotsi said.
The leaders addressed the press during the ODM National Youth League’s executive committee and the party’s National Governing Council’s retreat in Machakos County.
Osotsi said they were revamping the youth league to make it a key and vital organ of the party as they prepare for the grassroots election scheduled to start in November.
“The party is moving forward. We are a party with an identity, and our identity is to promote social justice and democracy in this country. We aren’t going to seize that space. We will continue doing that even though some of our members are in the broad-based government. We will pursue that path for the benefit of all Kenyans,” Osotsi said.
He said the party’s youth league would organise several forums of the same across the country to attract as many youths as possible.
“Recently, the Registrar of Political Parties came up with an audit report stating that the only party that is compliant to the Political Parties Act is ODM,” Osotsi said.
Sifuna said ODM is an extremely organized political party.
“We have three leagues; youth, women, and ODM disability, and all these leagues are critical to the functioning and success of this party. I’m extremely encouraged by the message that has come out of this meeting that this party will retain its identity even in light of recent developments in the formation of the broad-based government,” Sifuna said.
“This shows that the young people in this party know who they are, they know themselves, they know their party, and therefore, the youth league president, I want to congratulate you for continuing with the good work of ensuring you fly the flag of ODM as high as possible,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna thanked the youth for supporting ODM Party leader Raila Odinga, stating that all was well as far as his bid for the position of African Union chairmanship was concerned.
“If you continue with your support for the party leader, I believe in the fullness of time, he will be able to make it to the AU. Thank you for endorsing the proposal that came from the central committee on the changes in the party’s leadership beginning with three deputy leaders and also the new chairperson, Gladys Wanga,” Sifuna said.
Orengo congratulated Ketora for being nominated to the National Assembly.
He said it was in a way recognition of the league and of its leadership.
“I hope if more chances occur, we should have a preference of members of the league,” Orengo said.
The Siaya governor said he was the oldest member of the ODM youth league.
“We are going to keep our identity, vision and remain the best organized party not only in the Republic of Kenya, but in the region. With that vision, organisation, and discipline that our members have, the sky isn’t the limit, the sky is just a target,, and we aim above the sky. We are going to succeed,” Orengo said.
Ketora said the retreat was to give members a chance to discuss matters arising, giving direction on the next cause of action and plan for the league.
“I’m happy to announce that we had 100 per cent attendance from the 47 counties,” Ketora said.
He said they had deliberated on a number of issues, both internal and external and of national interest.
Ketora said as the ODM youth league, they wish Raila the best in his quest for the AU chairmanship.
“We have resolved that the ODM Youth League is going to retain its identity and that of our mother party, which is ODM. We are beginning a countrywide activation of our programs to capture new mentorship, to add new members to our party, and at the same time recruit more,” Ketora said.