Intergenerational conclave: Raila backdoor for referendum?

In a fresh twist to Kenyan politics, ODM Leader Raila Odinga launched a bold initiative calling for an intergenerational national conclave, a platform designed to bridge generational, regional, and partisan divides.
Announced on 7 July 2025, at Serena Hotel in Nairobi, the proposed conclave seeks to gather Kenyans from across the social and political spectrum to discuss reforms on police accountability, corruption, governance, and ultimately ratify the conclusions through a national referendum.
Raila, speaking with his characteristic energy and conviction, argued the conclave would offer an opportunity to reset Kenya’s political trajectory by involving young and old voices alike.
“I propose an inclusive intergenerational national conclave to hear our people across all divides and come up with the irreducible reforms and changes necessary to take the country forward… I want the outcomes… subjected to a referendum,” he said during the announcement.
He further emphasised that central to the agenda would be the restructuring of Kenya’s policing framework and the establishment of firm checks on abuse of public office.
The proposal, however, has stirred mixed reactions from Kenya’s political elite and public commentators. Some see it as a genuine attempt to initiate reforms and promote civic participation, while others regard it as a strategic manoeuvre to reinsert Raila at the centre of power politics under the guise of public consultation.
Mura’nga County Joe Nyutu is among those who view Raila’s initiative as a careful balancing act between idealism and political pragmatism.
“Raila’s heart is supporting President Ruto while his mind is with his supporters,” Nyutu said in a recent interview. “His heart pumps blood into the broad-based government while his mind is giving him dreams and nightmares of his supporters.”
According to Nyutu, the former Prime Minister is walking a tightrope, appearing to support the current administration while preserving credibility among his long-time base. The conclave, in his view, is a political tool designed to serve both ends: offering a reformist agenda while keeping Raila’s political flame alive ahead of 2027.
But not everyone is convinced by the gesture. People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua responded sharply, questioning the credibility of a reform process led by a government she accuses of suppressing civil liberties.
“There is the broad-based or blood-based government on one side, and the people of Kenya on the other side,” she said. “You cannot dialogue with somebody who has put a foot on your throat.” Karua’s critique captures a growing unease in some quarters that the conclave could merely be political theatre, meant to create the illusion of inclusion while sidelining genuine opposition voices and civil society.
The Dialogue
Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma has weighed in on the proposed national talks recently suggested by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“Baba, you mean well for Kenya. You are a true patriot,” he said, adding that this recognition highlights Raila’s long-standing commitment to national cohesion and social progress.
According to Kaluma, the “bona fide Gen Z movement ended in June 2024.” He implied that the movement’s official phase had concluded and that current groups claiming to represent Gen Z are not aligned with the original movement’s ideals.
The MP went further to criticise certain youth factions involved in recent unrest, describing them as “anarchists calling themselves Gen Z to sanitise their criminal riots.”
He drew a sharp divide between peaceful youth activism and violent protests that have occasionally erupted in the country. He firmly asserted, “They can’t and will not dialogue – it is not in their interest to do so.”
In contrast, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has offered one of the fiercest critiques from within the broader pro-Raila spectrum. While once describing Raila as an indispensable player in Kenya’s governance, Nyutu now warns against any collaboration between Raila and President William Ruto, calling such a partnership politically dangerous and untrustworthy.
“Raila cannot sit at the same table with Ruto… If Ruto could con Gachagua after he brought him 5 million votes, what about Raila?” Nyutu remarked.
His scepticism is rooted in what he sees as Ruto’s pattern of using alliances for short-term gain, only to abandon them once power is consolidated.
Nyutu also believes Raila is adopting some of Ruto’s grassroots tactics, deploying messaging that resonates with rural populations, staying out of the limelight in politically sensitive regions like Kisii, and offering populist narratives.
He argues these moves are strategic, especially as Raila eyes possible roles in a restructured executive. Nyutu has pushed back against speculation that the conclave could culminate in the creation of an executive prime minister’s position for Raila, warning that such moves would undermine Kenya’s constitutional framework and democratic integrity.
Citizenry on dialogue?
The public is softened through rhetoric about reform and unity. “It’s a delicate dance,” one senior official who declined to be named said. “Raila brings credibility and history; Ruto brings institutional control. The conclave could be their point of convergence.”
Some observers argue that the idea of a referendum, framed as a democratic exercise, might serve to entrench elite power under the veneer of public participation. If the outcomes of the conclave lead to a vote on constitutional amendments, it could pave the way for institutional changes that benefit the Raila-Ruto axis, potentially recasting the structure of the executive and legislative arms of government.
On the ground, ordinary Kenyans express mixed feelings. In Raila’s stronghold regions, such as Nyanza and Western Kenya, the idea of participatory reform continues to resonate, particularly around the issues of police violence and economic inequality.
But many citizens remain wary of what they perceive as elite manipulation. A popular thread on a Nairobi subreddit captured this tension: “Raila worshippers would make putting Raila’s government to account impossible… They believe ‘Baba is always right’,” one user wrote, alluding to the blind loyalty that sometimes insulates political leaders from necessary scrutiny.