ODM leader Raila Odinga has paid tribute to President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, describing them as among the founding members of the Orange Democratic Movement.

Speaking on Monday, August 18, during the joint Kenya Kwanza–ODM Parliamentary Group meeting at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, Raila reminded lawmakers that ODM was born from the country’s push for a new constitution in the mid-2000s, a period that redefined Kenya’s politics.

“One of the founding members of ODM is sitting here with you,” Raila said in reference to President Ruto. He also acknowledged Uhuru Kenyatta’s role in the party’s early days, noting that both leaders were part of ODM’s formation before political paths later diverged.

The former Prime Minister announced that ODM will mark its 20th anniversary in October and extended an invitation to all founding members to attend the celebrations.

“We are going to have 20 years of ODM in October. And all the founding members are going to be invited,” said Raila.

Raila took the opportunity to reflect on governance, insisting that Kenya’s institutions must stick to their defined roles.

He underlined that the executive should focus on implementing policies, the legislature on law-making and representation, while the judiciary ensures constitutional compliance.

“We said that we want to give clear responsibilities the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The legislature is supposed to make laws that the executive uses to run the country. And the judiciary ensures that in implementation of these laws, the executive does not overreach or violate the Constitution. But then, the work of parliament is representation,” he explained.

Raila’s remarks echo sentiments expressed recently by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who also identified himself as one of ODM’s founders.

Muturi recalled the party’s formative period, pointing out that while he supported Mwai Kibaki at the time, William Ruto stood firmly with Raila in the political struggles of the era.

ODM, formed out of the constitutional reform wave of the early 2000s, has since become one of Kenya’s most influential political movements.

From its early clashes with the Kibaki administration to its role in coalition politics and now its evolving relationship with Kenya Kwanza, the party remains a central force in shaping the country’s democratic journey.