By Hon Sammy Weya
I have taken note of the announcement by Hon. Oburu Odinga that he intends to defend the Siaya Senate seat in the forthcoming General Election.
First and foremost, I wish to state clearly that I have immense respect for the Odinga family. Our families have shared a long history dating back to the days of independence through the close friendship and political association between my late father and the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. I have personally supported Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Oburu Odinga over many years in their political journey and in the struggle for democracy and justice in Kenya.
However, leadership also demands honesty, renewal, and the courage to know when it is time to pass the baton.
Hon. Oburu Odinga now serves as the National Chairman and Party Leader of ODM — a party painstakingly built over decades through sacrifice, resilience, and tireless work by Raila Odinga and millions of supporters across the country. That responsibility alone is enormous and requires full attention, energy, strategic focus, and national unity-building.
If Hon. Oburu was unwilling to dedicate himself fully to rebuilding, reorganizing, and strengthening ODM after Raila’s transition from active party leadership, then he should have declined the position from the outset.
A few weeks ago, the country heard him express presidential ambitions. Today he says he will defend the Senate seat. Such inconsistency sows confusion among the people and raises legitimate questions about the direction of leadership within ODM.
I must candidly say that I believe Hon. Oburu Odinga has lost touch with the current political reality and the aspirations of the younger generation. His own niece, Winnie Odinga, correctly observed that ODM now requires energetic, visionary, and youthful leadership capable of connecting with the future of Kenya and the expectations of modern voters.
The people of Siaya deserve leadership that is active, accessible, energetic, innovative, and fully committed to advancing the county’s interests at the Senate level. Siaya cannot continue to recycle leadership indefinitely while many capable and experienced leaders remain sidelined.
It is also now crystal clear to me that there will be no fair democratic nomination contest within ODM for the Siaya Senate seat. The direct nomination route appears predetermined. For that reason, I want to make it absolutely clear to the people of Siaya that I will not participate in any sham or manipulated nomination process designed to favour one individual.
I will be on the ballot for Senator of Siaya County in the next General Election, and I will present my record, vision, experience, and agenda directly to the people.
During my tenure as Member of Parliament for Alego Usonga, I demonstrated practical development-oriented leadership through investments in education, health, roads, water, youth empowerment, electrification, and economic development. My record speaks for itself.
This election must not be about family entitlement, political inheritance, or personality cults. It must be about service delivery, accountability, fresh thinking, and the future of Siaya County.
I believe the time has come for generational transition, political fairness, and issue-based leadership.
I remain committed to respectful politics, unity among our people, and a progressive future for Siaya County.
May God bless Siaya County and its people.
The writer is a former Member of Parliament – Alego Usonga, Candidate for Senator – Siaya County
