The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has welcomed President William Ruto’s announcement renaming Talanta Stadium in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

During the 62nd Jamhuri Day celebrations on Friday, President Ruto directed that the facility be renamed Raila Amolo Odinga Stadium, acknowledging Odinga’s decades-long contribution to Kenya’s political journey.

In a statement released by ODM National Chairperson H.E. Gladys Nyasuna Wanga, the party expressed appreciation for what it described as “a humble and heartfelt gesture” that aligns with appeals made during Odinga’s burial ceremony in Bondo. ODM said the renaming offers a lasting tribute to Odinga’s legacy of “sacrifice, courage, justice, democracy, and national unity.”

According to the party, the President’s declaration reflects “the spirit of patriotism and national cohesion” and symbolically recognizes Odinga’s role in expanding democratic space, protecting constitutionalism, and championing the rights and dignity of Kenyans for decades.

ODM further noted that the move represents an important step toward healing and unity, values they say the late Odinga fought for throughout his life.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the ideals he stood for an inclusive, just, and prosperous Kenya guided by service, integrity, and leadership.

The statement concluded with a call for the gesture to inspire the nation to “rise above partisanship and embrace unity as the true foundation of national progress.”

Odinga, a central figure in Kenyan politics for over four decades, died earlier this year, prompting national and global tributes to his legacy.