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Christine Ombaka’s meeting with ODM grassroots leaders in Gem carried a message that should matter to every member of the party. The strength of ODM depends on the unity, participation and commitment of its people at the local level. The gathering brought together chairmen, youth leaders, women leaders and branch officials whose work keeps party structures active and connected to communities. As the Siaya County Woman Representative and an aspirant for the Gem parliamentary seat in 2027, Ombaka is engaging leaders whose support and participation will be important to the party’s work in the constituency.
The meeting’s call for “unity of purpose” is therefore more than a general appeal. It is a practical requirement for a party that wants to remain organised, responsive and trusted by its members. In Gem, unity means that leaders and members recognise their shared responsibility to strengthen ODM, even when they hold different views or come from different parts of the constituency. It means placing the party’s common interests above personal disputes and ensuring that internal competition does not disrupt the work of local structures.
Grassroots leaders are central to this effort. They organise members, communicate party positions and bring local concerns into political discussions. Chairmen and branch officials help coordinate party activity and maintain links among members. Youth leaders encourage young people to participate, while women leaders ensure that women’s experiences and priorities are heard. These responsibilities are distinct, but they all contribute to the same task of building a party that is active and accountable to its membership.
Recognising these leaders is an important part of strengthening the party. Their work is often sustained and local, involving regular contact with members and communities. A party cannot rely only on its elected leaders or senior officials to maintain support. It also needs people who understand local concerns, can organise participation and help members remain engaged between major political events. Their contribution should be respected not only in words, but through meaningful involvement in party decisions and activities.
Unity, however, should not be confused with silence or unquestioning agreement. Members must be able to raise concerns, express different opinions and debate the direction of their party. Such discussion can help an organisation understand its challenges and make better decisions. The responsibility of leaders is to ensure that differences are addressed respectfully and through proper party processes, rather than allowed to become personal hostility or lasting divisions.
This distinction matters because disagreements are natural in any political organisation. The problem arises when competing views turn into factions that weaken communication and prevent members from working together. When leaders and supporters focus on internal conflict, party structures can lose direction and members may feel excluded. ODM in Gem can avoid this by creating space for discussion while keeping attention on shared responsibilities and the needs of the constituency.
The call for “one ODM, one Gem, one family under Baba’s vision” expresses a desire for cohesion around a common political direction. That unity should be built through conduct. Leaders must listen to one another, members must participate in local structures and party officials must communicate decisions clearly. A shared vision is meaningful when it informs how people work together and how the party engages with its supporters.
Grassroots unity also requires regular engagement. Members should not be approached only when the party needs their attendance or support. They need opportunities to share their concerns, understand party decisions and contribute to the organisation’s priorities. Consistent communication can help prevent misunderstandings and strengthen trust between local leaders and the people they represent within the party.
Women and young people should be included as active participants in this process. Their roles should not be limited to mobilising support or attending gatherings. They should have opportunities to influence discussions, contribute ideas and take part in decisions that affect the party’s direction. When their participation is genuine, ODM can draw on a wider range of experience and respond more effectively to the concerns of its membership.
Branch officials and chairmen also have a responsibility to keep local structures organised and accessible. Members should know how to raise concerns and how party decisions are communicated. Cooperation among branches can make local activities more consistent and help prevent unnecessary misunderstandings. These practical measures can build confidence in the party and encourage members to remain involved.
Ombaka’s engagement with the grassroots leaders comes as she seeks to represent Gem in Parliament in 2027. Her aspiration gives added importance to the way she works with party members, but the call for unity should extend beyond any individual campaign. It is in ODM’s interest to maintain strong and inclusive structures regardless of which aspirant eventually receives the party’s support. The party’s cohesion must be a shared priority among leaders and members alike.
For an aspirant, engagement with grassroots leaders is also an opportunity to listen. Leaders and members can communicate the issues they consider important and explain what they expect from the party and its prospective candidates. A constructive relationship should allow ideas to move in both directions, from the party to the community and from the community into the party’s discussions. This helps ensure that political activity remains connected to the people it is meant to serve.
The reference to Baba’s vision should encourage members to focus on shared values and collective purpose. But unity around a vision must be accompanied by respect for the people who organise and participate in the party. Members should not be treated as a means to an end. Their concerns deserve attention, and their contribution should continue to matter after meetings and campaigns have ended.
The leaders who attended the meeting deserve appreciation for their work. Their roles help sustain ODM’s presence in Gem and provide a structure through which members can participate. Recognition, however, comes with responsibility. Every leader has a part to play in promoting respectful engagement, keeping party structures active and resolving disagreements without allowing them to undermine cooperation.
The meeting should therefore be seen as an opportunity to strengthen a continuing relationship, not as an end in itself. Its message will carry weight if leaders maintain communication, members remain involved and party structures work together. Unity of purpose must be reflected in daily practice through listening to concerns, respecting party processes and keeping the shared interests of ODM and Gem in view.
ODM’s organisation in Gem depends on how its leaders and members work together with discipline and mutual respect. That does not require everyone to agree on every matter. It requires them to manage differences constructively and remain committed to the party’s common work. The chairmen, youth leaders, women leaders and branch officials have a vital role in making that possible.
Christine Ombaka’s recognition of the grassroots leaders is an acknowledgement of their place in the party. The next step is for all members to sustain the commitment expressed at the meeting. With open communication, meaningful participation and a shared focus on unity, ODM can strengthen its organisation in Gem. One ODM and one Gem should mean a party whose members are heard, whose leaders cooperate and whose work remains guided by a common purpose.
Photo courtesy: Dr Christine Ombaka Communication unit.
