BY AUSTINE OGOLLA, THE POLITICAL BAROMETER: Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi recently sparked debate when he suggested that the ODM party should strategically choose not to field a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.

While his remarks drew mixed reactions within the party, some political observers are beginning to partly agree, however, with a significant twist.

The reasoning is simple: if ODM, the country’s largest opposition party, opts to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid or join a broader coalition, it must negotiate from a position of strength.

That strength should be leveraged to secure the Deputy President’s slot.

For many loyal ODM supporters, such a strategic move would ensure the party’s legacy remains anchored in the next government, even without fielding a presidential flagbearer.

Crucially, it would give the Luo Nyanza region, long seen as ODM’s political heartland, a meaningful stake in the country’s top leadership after decades in the opposition.

The Ida Odinga Precedent

The proposal to have Mama Ida Odinga as a running mate is not without precedent, either locally or internationally.

Across Africa and beyond, wives of former opposition or liberation leaders have successfully stepped into high political offices, carrying forward the ideals their spouses once championed.

In Zimbabwe, Joice Mujuru, widow of liberation war hero Solomon Mujuru, rose to become Vice President, embodying continuity within a revolutionary movement; in Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor, former wife of ex-President Charles Taylor, served as Vice President, demonstrating that legacy and leadership can co-exist; in South Sudan, Angelina Teny, wife of long-time opposition leader Riek Machar, has held powerful cabinet positions, including Minister of Defence, proving that women connected to strong political movements can play pivotal roles in peace and governance; and finally in Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, widow of former reformist leader Néstor Kirchner, rose to both President and later Vice President, carrying forward a populist legacy.

In this context, the idea of Mama Ida Odinga stepping onto the national political stage as a running mate would not only honour the Odinga legacy but also signal a powerful evolution in Kenyan politics; one where experience, loyalty, and symbolic continuity converge.

Unmatched National Appeal

For years, Mama Ida has been more than just a political spouse. She has been a respected educator, a powerful women’s rights advocate, and a stabilizing moral force within ODM.

Her credibility across political divides, combined with the emotional connection Kenyans have with the Odinga family, gives her unmatched national appeal.

By pushing for the running mate position, ODM would avoid a bruising internal contest over succession while ensuring its core identity remains firmly anchored in the top echelons of government.

Beyond her personal credentials, Mama Ida also brings something even more powerful: unrivalled access to Raila Odinga’s vast political networks, financiers, and sympathizers both locally and abroad.

These are individuals and institutions that have long supported democratic reform and could rally behind her candidacy out of loyalty to the Odinga legacy.

In a political environment where resource mobilization and international goodwill often determine campaign success, that network could prove invaluable.

In an era where alliances shift faster than manifestos, ODM’s survival may depend less on confrontation and more on strategic negotiation.

And perhaps, just perhaps, Mama Ida Odinga could be the definitive bridge between Raila’s enduring legacy and Kenya’s political future.