Oburu Oginga endorsed as ODM Party leader

As the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) continues to acclimate after the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in a powerful show of unity and resolve, leaders have endorsed Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as the camp’s acting leader.

The announcement, made during a high-profile gathering of party delegates, elected leaders, elders, and clergy from across Nyanza, marks a pivotal moment in the party’s journey toward national consolidation.

Speaking on Friday, October 24, 2025, Oburu expressed deep gratitude for the trust placed in him.

“I am very proud of my people. I am proud that you have given me this support. I promise not to let you down. This is not about uniting the Luo, it is about uniting Kenya,” he said.

The endorsement follows a unanimous decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC), which appointed Oburu to steer the party through a transitional period.

This comes amid growing speculation of the ODM party after the death of the former premier, with a section of members extending the charm offensive to President William Ruto to cement his reelection bid under the ODM banner.

However, the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna insists that ODM will field a candidate in the 2027 polls, but it remains unclear whether the candidate will run with or against Ruto in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, ODM has maintained that they will work with the Head of State up to 2027, even as a section pushes for the pact beyond 2027

Has ODM decided?

Addressing the rally, Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo emphasised the breadth of support behind Oburu’s elevation, noting that delegates from all four counties of Nyanza, along with governors, MPs, MCAs, and religious leaders, had endorsed the decision.

“This is not just a regional endorsement. It is the final affirmation by the National Governing Council,” he said.

On her part, the ODM Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga delivered a firm message on party discipline and loyalty to structures.

“The National Executive Committee has spoken. Dr. Oburu Oginga is our acting party leader. As members of ODM, we must respect that decision. If you are true to Raila Odinga and to the ideals of this party, you cannot go against its structures,” she said.

Wanga emphasised that ODM’s strength lies in its unity and its ability to speak with one voice.

“This is not the time for division. It is the time to rally behind our leadership and move forward together.”

Senator Moses Kajwang’ painted a vivid picture of ODM’s national reach, likening the party to a living organism.

“The heart is in Luo land. The head is in Western. The lungs are in the Coast. The kidneys are in Nairobi. ODM is not a Luo party; it is a national party,” he said.

 “If Baba asked us to go right, we went right. If he asked us to go left, we went left. That is loyalty. The way to prove that now is by staying united not just in Nyanza, but across Kenya.”