Ruth Odinga: Raila's last message about ODM

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s young sister Ruth has revealed the last conversation she had with him shortly before his death.

Ruth Odinga said the last conversation she had with Raila was about the future of his party, the Orange Democratic Movement.

Ruth called for unity within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urging party members to uphold the values and strength championed by her late brother, Raila.

Speaking during a memorial gathering, Ruth recounted her final conversation with the opposition leader, saying Raila had insisted that the party must remain strong and united.

“What you said about our party, that it must remain; you told me that at 8 am the day before you passed on in the morning, that our party must be united, it must be strong. ODM must unite, we cannot have one ODM here, another one there being led by some other people and another one being led by a few people who think they own the party,” she said.

“Some of you who want to take the party don’t even know how we got it. We are going to go to any negotiation table with a strong, united, one ODM.”

Ruth warned against internal divisions, saying splinter groups risk weakening the movement Raila devoted his life to.

She added that the ODM family must speak with one voice in future political engagements.

This comes amid renewed discussions within ODM about succession and the future leadership of the party following Raila’s death.

The Orange party appointe the Siaya Senator as the Acting Party Leader, following a unanimous decision by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC)

In a statement issued on Thursday morning, ODM announced that the NEC had met and unanimously endorsed Oburu’s designation.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) has this morning met and unanimously endorsed the designation of Senator of Siaya County Oburu Oginga, as the Acting Party Leader. This appointment takes effect immediately,” the party said in a brief statement posted on its official platforms on Thursday.

Oburu steps into the role at a critical time for the party as it begins a transition process following Raila’s death on Wednesday.

The appointment of Oburu is expected to ensure continuity in leadership as the party prepares to chart its next course.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said ODM will remain part of the broad-based government even after the death of its former leader, Raila.

Speaking in Bondo, Siaya county, Wandayi—one of Raila’s long-time confidants—said the party was firmly behind President William Ruto.

“Baba Raila Amolo Odinga has left us in government led by President William Ruto, and that is where we are going to stay till the end,” he declared.

Raila and Ruto entered into a working agreement on March 7 this year, a deal that saw several of Raila’s allies, including Wandayi, incorporated into what was described as a broad-based government.

The coalition was formed in the wake of Gen Z-led anti-government protests sparked by a controversial finance bill and the high cost of living unrest that nearly crippled the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Wandayi said ODM would continue working with Ruto just as Raila had envisioned, insisting the cooperation was part of Raila’s legacy.

“And I can dare say without any fear of contradiction that we are going to walk step by step with President William Ruto to the end, now and beyond 2027,” he said