ORANGE OPPOSITION
Democracy and the 2017 Presidential Elections in Kenya.
ODM, the Orange Democratic Movement, campaigned as an opposition political party in the 2017 Kenyan Presidential elections. Together with other center-left parties, ODM formed part of a coalition called the National Super Alliance, commonly referred to as NASA.
In the 2017 Presidential race, NASA’s leader, Raila Odinga, challenged incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. In an August election fraught with allegations of vote-rigging, Uhuru won. Citing vote irregularities, Raila and ODM filed a case with the Kenyan Supreme Court to invalidate the results. The court decreed that there must be an election re-do, and campaigning for round two of the national elections continued through fall 2017.
Raila Odinga is known for his fiery speeches on democracy, human rights and ideals of equality for all Kenyans. He addresses his supporters at frequent public and online gatherings, and rallies filled with attendees sporting ODM's characteristic orange attire marked the lead-up to the second round of presidential elections in 2017.
Critics say Raila's oppositional branding is a calculated distraction from being called a member of the old political guard (he was Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008-2013), and that his rhetoric around Luo rights stokes ethnic tension. Others argue that Raila Odinga's role—as an “opposition” voice— has contributed to constructive debates on the nature of Kenyan democracy and led to positive electoral reform.
Following are images from some of Raila’s 2017 campaign events, showcasing the popular-rallies-style political agitating of the Orange Opposition.
Raila Odinga supporters wear Orange, the official color of ODM, and caps emblazoned with Raila's initials RAO.
Baseball caps form a sea of orange during a NASA rally in Nairobi's Uhuru Park.
A supporter reacts to seeing Raila Odinga's motorcade driving through downtown Nairobi.
Raila fans wear clothes showing their support for the opposition leader.
The man himself: Raila Amolo Odinga speaks into an orange microphone, the official color of his movement.
NASA supporters sit in a tree to get a better view of a stage where political speeches were delivered in the lead-up to the repeat October 2017 Presidential elections.
"Team NASA"
After a rally, attendees exit Uhuru Park. As people approached the road outside the park, police fired tear gas at those walking downtown or trying to board matatus.