Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga has dismissed claims that the party lost its political relevance following the death of its former leader, Raila Odinga.
Speaking during an interview on TV47’s Habari Show hosted by Elizabeth Mutuku, Oburu acknowledged the difficulty of taking over the leadership of a party that had been closely associated with Raila for years.
“This year has been difficult for me because, first, I did not know whether I would be able to take this opportunity to lead ODM, which is the biggest party compared to other parties,” Oburu said.
He admitted that succeeding Raila was not easy task, noting that his late brother had established himself as a dominant figure in Kenya’s opposition politics.
“This job is not easy because Raila had built that stature which was like he was the automatic leader of opposition, and people expected he would be the President of this country,” he said.
Oburu said Raila’s political legacy had created significant expectations around whoever would assume leadership of ODM, acknowledging the scale of the task before him.
“Raila’s shoes were big,” he stated, adding that he had nevertheless developed his own political identity and leadership style.
“I also gained knowledge and made my own which fits me,” Oburu said.
Oburu Vows to Strengthen ODM
The ODM leader dismissed claims that the party had effectively died following Raila’s death, insisting that the political outfit remained active and focused on rebuilding and strengthening its structures.
“Many people said ODM was buried the day Raila was buried, but we are telling them, ng’ooo!” he said.
Oburu maintained that ODM would continue working to strengthen its grassroots structures and attract new supporters as it prepares for further elections.
He also pledged to push for fair and transparent party nomination process, saying members would be given an equal opportunity during future internal contests.
“We want clean party nominations,” Oburu said, adding that members would be treated fairly without favoritism.
He further said some members who had left ODM over concerns about unfair treatment had been forgiven and could still return to the party.
The remarks come as ODM navigates a leadership transition following Raila’s death and seeks to reposition itself ahead of future electoral contests.
