ODM party leader Oburu Oginga wants political leaders who are undecided over the party’s political alliance with President William Ruto to take a stand, saying there is no room for 'fence sitters'.
Speaking in Naivasha on Monday, Oburu said ODM’s decision to work with Ruto was a product of political realities and should be approached with honesty by those within the alliance.
He said ODM had missed out on the presidency in previous elections but chose to move on, eventually finding itself working with Ruto.
“We missed the presidency and we said it is okay, life must move on. And Ruto could feel our presence on the streets, but as fate could have it, we are together and we are now tied together by this umbilical cord,” Oburu said.
He called on those with concerns about the arrangement to raise them openly instead of remaining undecided on whether to support the alliance.
“We must urge that let us be straightforward. If you have an issue that you want to raise, raise it honestly. Do not be a fence sitter. Decide where you are because we want to know who is with us and who is not with us,” he said.
Oburu also defended ODM’s longevity and organisational strength, describing it as one of Kenya’s longest-serving political parties.
He traced the party’s roots to Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy, saying the country had gone through several political waves since independence, including the period when multiparty politics was abandoned.
He said Kenyans had fought and sacrificed to end oppressive laws and restore multiparty democracy, leading to the registration of numerous political parties.
“Many parties were registered, some are briefcase parties that only appear during elections and are folded at the end of the day. Our party is the longest-serving party. We are organised from the grassroots all the way to the polling stations,” Oburu said.
He added that ODM’s structure and resilience had made it attractive to other political actors seeking to emulate its organisation.
“Many people admire us because they want to copy what we are doing,” he said.
