- Senator Oburu Oginga has confirmed his health and readiness to lead ODM after the death of his brother Raila Odinga
- He explained ODM’s position on the formation of a new government after the next general election
- His statements came amid internal divisions and different positions within the ODM party towards the 2027 elections.
Migori: ODM party leader and Siaya senator, Oburu Oginga, has confirmed that he is in good health and has rebuked critics who questioned his ability to lead the party following the death of his brother, a former prime minister. Raila Odinga.
Source: Facebook
His statements have come a few weeks after rumors spread about his health, when he reportedly fell ill while abroad a few days after Raila’s funeral.
However, his family explained that the senator took a break (holiday) after intense by-election campaigns.
What did Oburu Odinga say about the rumor he is dead?
On Saturday, December 27, he appeared at a sports tournament in Suna East Sub-County, where he proved his resilience and announced his readiness to lead ODM into the future.
“ODM has been led and built well by my brother. Raila was not only my brother; he was my mentor and my friend, and we lived together as twins for 80 years. Now he has left me, and I find myself carrying the burden of leadership of the ODM party. I am not afraid to say that I will not shake. I will stay in this position fully. Anyone who thinks that Oburu is about to die, that he is leaving soon, is very wrong. I am the same as the President of the United States Donald Trump. We are both 82 years old,” he said.
Oburu congratulated Raila for leaving the party within a broad-based arrangement, explaining that it was the best decision for the future of ODM.
He emphasized that now the party should move forward with unity and determination to win the 2027 elections.
“Our people will not return to opposition. Our people have suffered opposition for a long time. We will fight for it. We will not ask for favors. We will deserve it by being strong within our party,” he added.
At the event, Oburu almost forgot to welcome the President William Ruto and he had to be reminded, noting that he thought Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed—whom he said had succeeded him politically after Raila’s death—would take care of protocol issues.
Source: Facebook
Are there any conspiracies to “auction off” the ODM party?
At the same time, ODM has been facing internal divisions with leaders taking different positions towards the 2027 elections.
Secretary General of ODM, Edwin Sifunaalong with other officials declared their loyalty to the party chiefs and Raila’s last orders to support the broad arrangement until 2027.
However, some of the party’s deputy leaders, including governors Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati, expressed conditional support for Ruto, insisting that ODM must be in government or form a government itself.
In the middle of the tension, claims have emerged that some local people are planning to “auction” the party to President Ruto and the retired president Uhuru Kenyattaa situation that increases uncertainty within ODM.
Is ODM happy to be in government?
On the other hand, when he was speaking in the Church of St. Peters Nyamira ACK, Oburu insisted that the current position of ODM in government is not a result of support directly Ruto’s victory, but it is a negotiation arrangement.
He pointed out that the party’s participation is built on a broad system based on the ten-point agenda.
According to him, ODM’s participation is motivated by a commitment to implement reforms and strategic interests, not political convenience.
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