The Orange Democratic Movement has announced it will field candidates in all upcoming by-elections across the country as part of its renewed political strategy to strengthen the party base.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, addressing journalists after a Central Committee meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, said the party had resolved to contest every seat in the scheduled mini-polls. The meeting was chaired by party leader Raila Odinga.

“We have been presented with a schedule of all upcoming by-elections, and the resolution of this committee is that ODM will fully participate in all of them,” Sifuna said.

The declaration clears any speculation about whether ODM would consider joint candidates with other parties for the by-elections. Sifuna said the party will instead go it alone and remain fully engaged in the electoral process.

He also confirmed that the party’s internal programmes, including grassroots elections and the "ODM at 20" anniversary celebrations, would continue as planned. These initiatives, Sifuna said, are aimed at reorganising and energising the movement.

“There will be no slowing down. These efforts are part of a wider plan to restructure and strengthen the party,” he said.

There are 23 by-elections the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is currently preparing to conduct. These include one senatorial, six parliamentary, and 16 ward representative positions.

IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon said last week that the electoral body had already started preparations for the by-elections and is currently updating the voter register to ensure all logistical processes are on course.

“This is a priority matter. As you have noticed, more than two years have already passed. Constituencies like Banisa in the Northeast have gone almost three years without a Member of Parliament,” Ethekon stated.

The Banisa seat became vacant following the death of Kullow Hassan Aden in a hit and run incident in Nairobi in March 2023.

Other vacant parliamentary seats include Malava, previously held by the late Malulu Injendi who passed away after an illness, and Magarini, which was declared vacant after the Supreme Court annulled the election of Harrison Kombe.

The Kasipul seat also fell vacant after the assassination of Charles Were on May 1, 2025.

In Ugunja and Mbeere North, the seats were declared vacant following the appointments of former MPs Opiyo Wandayi and Geoffrey Ruku to the Cabinet.