ODM party leader Oburu Odinga/ FILEODM party leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has claimed that President William Ruto's recently unveiled Vision 2060 development blueprint originated from the late Raila Odinga and his team of experts, describing it as ODM's contribution to the Kenya Kwanza-ODM broad-based government.
Oburu said ODM fully supports the proposed long-term national development plan because it was conceptualised by Raila long before it was unveiled by the government.
He was speaking on Sunday during a thanksgiving and prayer service for Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Atieno Osogo Bensuda in Kanyadhiang, Karachuonyo Constituency, Homa Bay county.
"You have also seen recently President Ruto has come up with a blueprint of 2060. That 2060 was an idea of our late Raila Amolo Odinga, and the team which crafted it was formed by the late Raila Amolo Odinga," Oburu said.
"And therefore, we are 100 per cent supporting it because it is our idea. It is our contribution to the coalition."
His remarks came days after President Ruto unveiled the Vision 2060 framework, describing it as Kenya's next long-term development roadmap that will succeed Vision 2030 and guide the country's economic and social transformation over the next three decades.
The President said the blueprint seeks to build on gains made under Vision 2030 while positioning Kenya as a globally competitive, inclusive and sustainable economy by 2060.
Ruto also announced the formation of an advisory team led by Professor Hiroyuki Hino and Anyang' Nyong'o to spearhead national consultations on the country's long-term development agenda.
According to the President, the process will involve experts, policymakers, the private sector, academia and citizens in shaping a shared national vision beyond the lifespan of Vision 2030.
Oburu also used the occasion to defend ODM's decision to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration, insisting the party's participation in the broad-based arrangement was yielding policy influence rather than political compromise.
He said ODM had entered government "through the window" but would seek a stronger mandate from Kenyans in the next General Election.
"We came in through the window, but this time round we are going to come through the front door. We are going to come through the front door strong, and we are not going to be beggars," he said.
Oburu said the party expected its political strength to be reflected in future power-sharing arrangements.
"We are going to have our fair share because of our numbers, and those numbers will be reflected in our votes," he said.
He disclosed that ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had already established a joint technical team to negotiate policy positions under the broad-based arrangement.
According to him, the discussions will culminate in a joint policy framework that will shape future political engagements.
"Right now, we have formed a technical team which is negotiating on policies of both UDA and ODM, and we are soon going to come out with a manifesto which we shall use to campaign before Kenyans in the future," he said.
At the same time, Oburu defended proposals for political zoning, saying coalition partners should respect each other's traditional support bases instead of competing against one another in areas where one party enjoys overwhelming support.
He argued that ODM strongholds should remain under the party's control as discussions on future electoral cooperation continue.
"We want zoning because this is our zone. We don't want UDA here in Homa Bay," he said.
Oburu said counties where ODM has governors, Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly should automatically be recognised as the party's zones without the need for negotiations.
"We start with our areas where we have strongholds, where we have our governors, where we have our MPs and where we have our MCAs. Those are our zones automatically without negotiation," he said.
He added that ODM intends to consolidate support in its traditional bases, including Nyanza, Western Kenya, the Coast, North Eastern and Turkana, before working with other partners to form the next government.
"We want to work with all the ODM strongholds... all of us together, and we are going to come together to form the next government as one," Oburu said.
