Raila workers fired as Oburu cements place in ODM ranks

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A major shake-up has hit ODM after more than 90 staff linked to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga were dismissed amid efforts by Oburu Oginga to tighten control.

Insiders said the decision was communicated during a meeting in Nairobi, with many of the affected employees learning of their fate in person.

While some were based at Raila’s Capitol Hill office, others were stationed across the country, managing ODM’s regional operations and coordinating grassroots political activities.

Sources emphasised that not all the dismissed staff were based in Nairobi and were not part of those placed under the VIP retirement arrangement, signalling the move extended beyond a limited group of legacy staff with special packages.

The purge comes amid efforts by ODM leader Oburu to consolidate control over the party ahead of next year's general election.

The layoffs have raised eyebrows within political circles, given that many of the affected employees were long-serving staff with deep ties to Raila’s political machinery.

Attempts to reach Oburu for comment on phone calls and text messages were unsuccessful.

The firings coincided with his move into a new operational base, underscoring a period of transition and realignment within the party.

The political stature of the Siaya senator appears to be undergoing a transformation, with Oburu increasingly displaying the trappings of power that reflect his growing influence in Kenya’s political landscape.

His public profile has visibly risen as he assumes a more prominent role in guiding ODM during a period marked by heightened political activity and internal reorganisation.

On Tuesday, Oburu unveiled a private office in Nairobi’s upscale Riverside estate — a clear signal of his evolving status within the party hierarchy.

Located along Riverside Drive near Strathmore University, the facility mirrors the stature and functionality of the famed Capitol Hill office that served for years as Raila’s political command centre.

Oburu, who spoke during the event, assured party members and supporters he had the energy, will and capacity to steer ODM to greater heights.

“The office will continue to work just as we used to work with our late brother Raila Odinga,” he said.

The Riverside facility will serve as a political nerve centre, complete with a full secretariat to coordinate his engagements and party affairs.

Oburu’s security detail has also expanded, now including a chase car trailing his convoy — a formation often associated with senior government officials.

In another striking development, a helicopter has reportedly been put on standby for the senator, allowing him to swiftly attend political engagements across the country.

He has recently been traversing the country attending party functions, frequently travelling by air — a development that signals a dramatic rise in his political visibility and operational reach.

The unveiling of the new office also underscores a shift in ODM’s internal power architecture.

Before moving to Riverside, Oburu had been operating from a modest office on the sixth floor of Bunge Towers.

Political analysts say the new facility symbolises the senator’s central role in coordinating party strategy and decision-making, effectively positioning him as the custodian of ODM’s future direction.

Oburu was selected to take over leadership of the party in October last year following the death of Raila.

These developments coincide with growing murmurs within ODM over unexplained financial inflows linked to recent political activities.

ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga have separately questioned the sources of funds used to organise the party’s “Linda Ground” rallies across the country, saying the activities were not authorised through official party channels.

Sifuna, a signatory to ODM’s bank accounts alongside National Treasurer Timothy Bosire, said the last official expenditure by the party was during its 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa last November.

“The money you see being spent in ODM rallies is not coming from ODM headquarters. There is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours,” he said.

Asked whether he knew the source of the funds, Sifuna said he could only account for money that passed through the official party accounts.

“You will ask them. I can only account for monies that I am a signatory to,” he said.

Ruth, the younger sister of Raila, also raised concerns over the financing of the rallies.

She questioned whether governors were funding the events, whether MPs were using constituency development funds, or whether a philanthropist was financing the costly political mobilisation without the knowledge of the party secretary general.

She further noted that ODM is constitutionally owed Sh12 billion in political party funding by the government based on its parliamentary strength.

According to her, the funds remain unreleased, leaving the party dependent on alternative financing for its activities.

The timing of the staff layoffs, the establishment of a new political headquarters and the questions surrounding parallel funding point to a broader power realignment within ODM.

Political analysts say the developments suggest a deliberate effort by Oburu to consolidate his control over the party’s organisational machinery.

Observers note the dismissal of long-serving staff may be aimed at clearing the way for a team more closely aligned with his leadership style and strategic direction.

At the same time, the new office, enhanced security detail and increased political visibility convey a message about Oburu’s expanding reach and authority — elements often associated with the consolidation of power in Kenya’s political culture.

While Raila’s legacy continues to loom large over the party, Oburu appears determined to stamp his own leadership style on ODM as it prepares for the political battles leading to the 2027 General Election.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The combination of staff restructuring, a new political command centre and questions over parallel funding signals a complex realignment within ODM, with Oburu emerging at the centre of the party’s evolving power dynamics.