ODM acting party leader Oburu Oginga has convened a high-level meeting of elected leaders and delegates from Nyanza as he seeks to consolidate loyalty and steady the party following the death of Raila Odinga.
The meeting, slated for Friday at Oburu’s rural home in Bondo, comes just a day after Luo elders installed Raila Junior as the head of Raila family in accordance with Luo traditions.
“The seat of power in this home now rests with the new leader, Raila Odinga Jnr together with his mother,” Oburu declared, noting that the symbolic passing of the mantle was rooted in time-honoured customs.
According to Luo traditions, the fourth day after burial holds spiritual and cultural significance — marking the formal end of mourning.
“My brother was buried on Sunday last week,” Oburu explained. “Counting from that day, last night marked the fourth night. This is when the funeral officially ends.”
As Raila Junior was being installed, Oburu called for a regional ODM meeting expected to bring together all elected leaders and at least two delegates from every ward across the Nyanza region.
While the meeting’s official agenda remains undisclosed, insiders say it is intended to strengthen party unity and reaffirm loyalty to Raila’s legacy.
“We don’t know the agenda yet, but the meeting has been called. We are waiting to hear from him,” one MP told The Star.
Leaders from Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay counties are expected to participate in the meeting, which will include a pilgrimage to Raila’s grave at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo to pay their respects and renew their commitment to the ideals he stood for.
“The visit to Raila’s grave is not just about mourning — it’s about renewing our loyalty to the movement he built,” an ODM official said.
“We are saying the journey he started continues and we are ready to walk it under Oburu’s guidance.”
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo confirmed the planned collective visit, saying it would be a show of unity.
“We have agreed to go and visit Baba’s grave as a team instead of each of us going individually,” Odhiambo said.
“No, installation as ODM leader will happen at the party’s National Delegates Conference,” Atandi clarified, dismissing speculation that Oburu would be formally crowned ODM leader at the meeting.
After paying homage at Raila’s resting place, the leaders will proceed to Oburu’s home to express solidarity and pledge allegiance to his leadership as the acting party head and regional spokesperson.
Delegates from Migori county, led by Governor Ochilo Ayacko, are said to have visited earlier in the week to convey condolences and affirm their commitment to party unity but are expected to return for Friday’s gathering.
Party insiders say the meeting will mark the conclusion of Nyanza’s regional consultations and is expected to cement Oburu’s position as the focal point of ODM’s leadership transition.
“The unity of the Nyanza region remains critical for ODM’s national strength,” a member of the ODM National Executive Council said. “These visits are part of a broader effort to keep the party united and organised as we prepare for 2027.”
Following Raila’s death, divisions have emerged within ODM, with leaders taking opposing stances on whether to align with President William Ruto’s broad-based government.
During Raila’s burial, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna dismissed claims that Raila had endorsed Ruto’s re-election bid.
“Let me state before you here that the party you have left us, I, Sifuna, will not be part of those who fail ODM or Raila,” he said.
However, a faction led by ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga, deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir and cabinet secretaries John Mbadi, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya maintains that ODM will remain part of the broad-based arrangement.
“Raila made a clear decision to work with Ruto for the stability and unity of the nation,” Wanga said. “Baba, we did not betray you when you were alive and we will not betray you when you are gone,” Nassir said.
At 82, Oburu remains one of ODM’s founding members and Raila’s closest political confidants. His recognition as acting leader is seen as a mark of respect and a strategic move to preserve unity within ODM’s traditional base.
The twin events — the visit to Raila’s grave and the meeting at Oburu’s home — carry deep symbolic meaning for ODM loyalists, signifying the continuity of the Odinga legacy and the community’s resolve to sustain Raila’s vision.
As ODM reorganises under Oburu’s stewardship, attention now turns to how the party will navigate the post-Raila era — balancing emotion, legacy, and the practical realities of Kenyan politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, sister to the late former Prime Minister, has warned against internal wrangles in ODM, saying the party belongs to all its members. Ruth urged unity during the transition, reminding members that her brother dedicated his life to building a strong, inclusive movement. She said the party must remain united. ODM is not about individuals — it is about the vision Raila stood for. We owe it to him to protect that unity.
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