VIDEO: ODM’S NEW SONG THAT SPARKED CONTROVERSY.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has released a new song in efforts to woo supporters ahead of the 2022 General Elections. 

Dubbed ODM Tuko Tayari (ODM is prepared), the new song composed targets women, youth, boda boda riders, touts and other hustlers, with the composers focusing on Gengetone beats, dance and Sheng lyrics. 

Loosely translated, the composer praises the ODM party for being accommodating to all voters without bias and that it is seeking to liberate Kenyans. The lyricists claim that the party will take Kenyans to Canaan (promised land). 

ODM tuko tayari 

Vijana ehh, Wamamaa ehh

Muok, muok, tuanze safari 

Stage ya mwisho Canaan na hio ndio habari 

Chama ya Wakenya wote na si tafadhali 

ODM ODM tumetoka mbali

Mbogi zote zimekubali

Mayouth, mamadha, mabuda

Madhii wa boda 

Hadi wale wa manganya 

ODM eeh

An excerpt of the campaign song reads. The party wants Kenyans to subscribe and register themselves as members. 

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s party, in mid-February 2021, unveiled new strategies to consolidate support. This includes conducting grass root elections from the polling stations to the national level.

Members were given until August this year to register as life members. Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said that only its life members would be granted party tickets in the 2022 General Election.

The song was also unveiled a day after reports claimed that Odinga spent over Ksh 500 million to purchase 4 helicopters  from France. The planes are expected to arrive in Nairobi for assembly in early March 2021 and will be used during campaigns. 

“The point is that ODM is preparing for 2022. As to the level of preparations or whether we are procuring choppers, we cannot reveal for now. It is true that we are putting the campaign plans in place and everything that we need for the campaigns but we cannot reveal our weapons,” ODM Chairman John Mbadi said. 

Political campaign’s music video not only acts as a medium of information but has the potential to form perceptions in an entertaining way. As a media campaign, music videos are considered a more persuasive strategy for the target audience. 

In 2017, Jubilee and ODM had campaign songs titled Tano Tena by Ben Githae and NASA Tibim by Onyi Jalamo. Kenyatta’s campaign team also released hits Uhuru ni Wetu and Kenya oh Kenya which highlighted the President’s success in his first term in office. 

By Kenyans.co.ke