Oburu: My mission in ODM after Raila

ODM acting party leader Oburu Oginga has moved to assert his leadership, saying his mission is to unite the party and safeguard its independence even as it continues to cooperate with President William Ruto.

Oburu, who took over leadership of the 20-year-old party following the death of his younger brother Raila Odinga, said he will do everything to ensure the party remains intact.

He said his mission is to gather all and scatter none.

The Siaya senator spoke during an interview with Ramogi TV.

“I have tried to bring the party together and that will be my focus, because if we allow the party to split we will destroy Raila’s legacy,” Oburu said.

He assured party supporters that ODM would not be swallowed into any arrangement, insisting that its identity and ideology would remain intact.

 “Raila left us in the broad-based government guided by the ten-point agenda. We are in the arrangement but we want our party to be distinct and strong and should not be swallowed in the arrangement,” Oburu said.

To reduce the political heat in the party, the party leader said the Central Committee meeting he chaired on Monday cautioned members against prematurely committing the party to any 2027 deal.

“We cautioned against any premature 2027 talks, we told those pro and against 2027 deals to go slow on their utterances because that is what is going to divide us,” Oburu said.

“We will also not be attacking the broad-based government because we are part of it.”

His remarks come as ODM navigates delicate internal dynamics following Raila’s passing, with factions split between those favouring cooperation with the government and those advocating for continued opposition politics.

Oburu’s statement is being read as a major step towards calming tensions and redefining ODM’s path in the post-Raila era, as the party seeks to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a show of reconciliation, Oburu defended the party’s secretary general Edwin Sifuna, who has been vocal against any deal with Ruto’s administration, saying he will not be punished for expressing his views.

Oburu said the firebrand senator has done nothing wrong and is an integral pillar of the outfit.

“You saw he is the one who read our party resolution. I have talked to him and he has no issues. He is young politician with a strong opinion. He can at times go overboard, but we are with him in the party,” he said.

Sifuna has of late faced criticism for his combative approach against President William Ruto’s administration and a possible 2027 deal.

Oburu also assured Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino that the party will not deny him the Nairobi governor’s ticket if he wins the nominations. 

Babu has been publicly expressing reservations about the party’s possibility of giving him ticket to challenge Governor Johnson Sakaja who enjoyed close links with Raila Odinga.

 “I do not see anything wrong with Babu Owino, although I hear there are some issues that may be troubling him,” Oburu said. 

“I do not know why he believes he cannot be given the ODM ticket to vie for Nairobi governor. There should be no reason to deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations. So Babu should not run away from the party,” he said.

Oburu said has been trying to reach out to Babu to reassure him of the party’s commitment to fairness. 

“I have not found him yet, but I’m looking for him, I have sent people to look for him, I know I will find him soon and we will have a conversation so he should not be worried,” the senator said.

Oburu urged all aspirants to prepare for an open and transparent nomination process, saying no candidate will be unfairly treated. 

Nominations have been the main weak link in the Raila’s party over the years with popular candidates being shortchanged and weak ones handed certificates.

“Let nobody run away because they think they will be denied a chance. Nobody can take the ticket away from you if you win it and you’re a member of the party,” he said. 

Oburu also weighed in on the debate over who should take over the Luo political mantle after the death of Raila, saying the next leader will emerge naturally.

He dismissed ongoing power jostling, urging the community to remain united and patient and wait for the new supremo.

He at the same time ruled out Raila’s age mates from the contest that is gaining traction by the day.

“The next leader ill just emerge and fill in the position, though I think he will not be from amongst Raila’s age mates,” Oburu said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

ODM figures have publicly differed on whether to work with Ruto beyond 202 , something that threatened the unity of the outfit. The new push by Oburu is seen by insiders as timely in bringing the different factions together.