ODM acting party leader Oburu
Oginga has convened a high-level meeting of elected leaders and delegates from
Nyanza as he seeks to consolidate loyalty and steady the party following the
death of Raila Odinga.
The meeting, slated for Friday at
Oburu’s rural home in Bondo, comes just a day after Luo elders installed Raila
Junior as the head of Raila family in accordance with Luo traditions.
“The seat of power in this home now
rests with the new leader, Raila Odinga Jnr together with his mother,” Oburu
declared, noting that the symbolic passing of the mantle was rooted in
time-honoured customs.
According to Luo traditions, the
fourth day after burial holds spiritual and cultural significance — marking the
formal end of mourning.
“My brother was buried on Sunday
last week,” Oburu explained. “Counting from that day, last night marked the
fourth night. This is when the funeral officially ends.”
As Raila Junior was being
installed, Oburu called for a regional ODM meeting expected to bring together
all elected leaders and at least two delegates from every ward across the
Nyanza region.
While the meeting’s official agenda
remains undisclosed, insiders say it is intended to strengthen party unity and
reaffirm loyalty to Raila’s legacy.
“We don’t know the agenda yet, but
the meeting has been called. We are waiting to hear from him,” one MP told The
Star.
Leaders from Kisumu, Siaya and Homa
Bay counties are expected to participate in the meeting, which will include a
pilgrimage to Raila’s grave at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo to pay their respects
and renew their commitment to the ideals he stood for.
“The visit to Raila’s grave is not
just about mourning — it’s about renewing our loyalty to the movement he
built,” an ODM official said.
“We are saying the journey he
started continues and we are ready to walk it under Oburu’s guidance.”
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi and
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo confirmed the planned collective visit, saying it would
be a show of unity.
“We have agreed to go and visit
Baba’s grave as a team instead of each of us going individually,” Odhiambo
said.
“No, installation as ODM leader
will happen at the party’s National Delegates Conference,” Atandi clarified,
dismissing speculation that Oburu would be formally crowned ODM leader at the
meeting.
After paying homage at Raila’s
resting place, the leaders will proceed to Oburu’s home to express solidarity
and pledge allegiance to his leadership as the acting party head and regional
spokesperson.
Delegates from Migori county, led
by Governor Ochilo Ayacko, are said to have visited earlier in the week to
convey condolences and affirm their commitment to party unity but are expected
to return for Friday’s gathering.
Party insiders say the meeting will
mark the conclusion of Nyanza’s regional consultations and is expected to
cement Oburu’s position as the focal point of ODM’s leadership transition.
“The unity of the Nyanza region
remains critical for ODM’s national strength,” a member of the ODM National
Executive Council said. “These visits are part of a broader effort to keep the
party united and organised as we prepare for 2027.”
Following Raila’s death, divisions
have emerged within ODM, with leaders taking opposing stances on whether to
align with President William Ruto’s broad-based government.
During Raila’s burial, ODM secretary
general Edwin Sifuna dismissed claims that Raila had endorsed Ruto’s
re-election bid.
“Let me state before you here that
the party you have left us, I, Sifuna, will not be part of those who fail ODM
or Raila,” he said.
However, a faction led by ODM
chairperson Gladys Wanga, deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir and cabinet secretaries
John Mbadi, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya maintains that ODM will remain
part of the broad-based arrangement.
“Raila made a clear decision to
work with Ruto for the stability and unity of the nation,” Wanga said. “Baba,
we did not betray you when you were alive and we will not betray you when you
are gone,” Nassir said.
At 82, Oburu remains one of ODM’s
founding members and Raila’s closest political confidants. His recognition as
acting leader is seen as a mark of respect and a strategic move to preserve
unity within ODM’s traditional base.
The twin events — the visit to
Raila’s grave and the meeting at Oburu’s home — carry deep symbolic meaning for
ODM loyalists, signifying the continuity of the Odinga legacy and the
community’s resolve to sustain Raila’s vision.
As ODM reorganises under Oburu’s
stewardship, attention now turns to how the party will navigate the post-Raila
era — balancing emotion, legacy, and the practical realities of Kenyan politics
ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth
Odinga, sister to the late former Prime Minister, has warned against internal
wrangles in ODM, saying the party belongs to all its members. Ruth urged unity
during the transition, reminding members that her brother dedicated his life to
building a strong, inclusive movement. She said the party must remain united.
ODM is not about individuals — it is about the vision Raila stood for. We owe
it to him to protect that unity.
