Oburu Oginga: My comments on DP seat were misinterpreted

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Oginga has clarified his earlier remarks regarding the party’s interest in the Deputy President’s position, saying his comments were misinterpreted.

Speaking during a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee in Mombasa, Oburu said his earlier statements only referred to having no personal issue with the current Deputy President, noting that the DP’s position remains a competitive public seat during elections.

“There is something that people misinterpret. They said that I mentioned that ODM is not eyeing the deputy president seat. That seat is the one we are eying the most,” Oburu said.

“I said that we don’t have a problem with the deputy president on a personal level. But the deputy president’s position is a public seat during an election.”

On February 2, Oburu dismissed claims of political rivalry with the Deputy President, insisting that the party’s engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration is driven by national interest, not power contests.

“For the Deputy President, we do not want your seat. You are our friend,” Oburu said on Monday during the launch of the Nyota programme in Kisumu.

“As we negotiate, we will negotiate for what our people deserve and for all Kenyans.”

Oburu added that ODM’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration follows years of political contestation and the loss of his brother, veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga’s long-time ally, which reshaped the party’s approach to national politics.

“ODM has collaborated with UDA in the broad-based government. Since we lost my brother and he left us in this situation, we decided to work together,” he said.

On Wednesday, ODM signalled a cautious approach ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections, emphasising that the party is not in a hurry to declare its position on whether to support a one-term or two-term presidential agenda.

“As a party, we have agreed in the previous Central Committee meetings and also in our National Delegates Conference. We agreed that as a party, we are not in a hurry to say one term. We are not in a hurry to say two terms. We are strengthening our party to prepare ourselves for negotiations,” Oburu said.

He explained that ODM would first engage with its existing partners, including the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), but added that if discussions do not yield an agreement, the party would explore dialogue with other formations.

“Or if there is no agreement with any, we go it alone as ODM. I think that is the position of the party. And I'm very happy with it,” he said.

The party leader’s remarks come as ODM navigates the political landscape following the passing of its long-serving leader, Raila Amolo Odinga.