By Anderson Ojwang
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, is fast becoming a master of political contradictions and inconsistency, causing confusion within and without his political block.
Oburu has continued to baffle the ODM fraternity with his pronouncements, which have caused anxiety, confusion and despair in the party.
Former Alego MP Sammy Weya said Dr Oburu has lost touch with current political reality and should pass over the baton.
“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,” he said.
Presidential candidate to senatorial aspirant
During the recent ODM Nyanza aspirants’ meeting in Kisumu, Dr Oburu declared that he will defend his Siaya senatorial seat.
According to the ODM constitution, the party leader is the automatic presidential candidate, and with Oburu’s declaration of senatorial ambition, the party’s presidential ambition is thrown to the winds.
In January this year, Dr Oburu declared his intention to vie for the presidency in the 2027 general election, saying he will be the party’s flagbearer should ODM decide to field a candidate.
“2026 is a crucial year for our party because things must be worked out before 2027. Before the end of 2026, we shall have clearly known and made all necessary arrangements going into 2027,” he stated.
Oburu said then that the ODM constitution dictates that the party leader is the suitable candidate for the presidency, meaning he would be the flag bearer should the party decide to seek the top office.
“If we’re going it alone, I want to make it clear that our Constitution has the presidential candidate for our party, and it is the party leader. I am the presidential candidate for ODM if the party decides to go it alone. Anybody who is preparing themselves to go for the presidency in ODM, I think, is misplaced. If they want to go for the presidency, they should look for another party,” he said.
Yesterday, during a TV interview, Dr Oburu said he declared his intention to defend his senatorial seat because that is what was readily available.
Weya said Dr Oburu was causing confusion in the party with his inconsistency.
“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,” he said.
Deputy President slot
Dr Oburu has been flip-flopping over the ODM demand for the post of Deputy President in a pre-election arrangement with UDA.
Oburu, the lead negotiator, seems to be changing the goalpost from the initial demand for the Deputy President slot to now undisclosed positions.
Last year, Oburu declared that ODM will not accept any position lower than that of the Deputy President in any pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
During last year’s interview with NTV, Oburu maintained that the party will only negotiate for top positions from a position of strength, and not desperation.
“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two (deputy president) in any formation. That is my take. We should not take less than that,” he said.
Oginga said ODM’s priority is to rebuild and unite its grassroots base to retain influence in national politics.
“I want my people of ODM to strengthen ODM as a party. If we are going to start talking about the position we will occupy there, we will get nothing. Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party. Our emphasis is on strengthening ODM so that we can negotiate for the top position in the land.”
Recently in Kisumu, Oburu said before President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the Deputy President slot.
Oburu said: “Deputy President, do not think we want your seat and that we want to chase you away. No. Please, you are our friend, but as we negotiate, we are going to negotiate what our people deserve and what our party deserves. ODM is not a Luo party; it is a national party. We will negotiate fairly. We are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share.”
Oburu later changed tack, saying that he was misquoted and that the party was interested in the Deputy President seat.
The Sifuna nightmare
After his appointment, Dr Oburu attempted to scuttle earlier attempts to expel Sifuna from the party, saying he espoused ODM ideology.
Sifuna then emerged victorious in a battle that had seen his critics, led by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, petition the party organs to take disciplinary action against him over his stand on the broad-based alliance.
In a meeting between Dr Oburu and the ODM Secretary General at ODM headquarters, the party leader then described Sifuna as espousing the party’s democratic ideals.
“I met with my friend, Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General of the ODM Party, this morning. He remains a sober and principled voice, embodying the democratic ideals we believe in as a party,” he wrote on his X handle.
Oburu said the party was united and encouraged everyone to speak their mind, as that was the foundation on which the party was formed.
“We are one. We are united as the ODM Party. As a leader, I believe we must encourage everyone to speak their mind. Differences of opinion do not mean division. Great parties—like ODM—grow through robust debate and unique challenges. That is where the progress and continuity of our party truly lie: in the hands of our young people,” he wrote then.
Recently, Oburu’s team allegedly sacked Sifuna and replaced him with Catherine Omanyo, but the move was halted by the tribunal court.
Dr Oburu, in a statement, said ODM was a members’ club and those in it must abide by the rules of membership.
“The minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way. So those with dissenting voices must respect the wishes of the majority. Democracy must be guided,” he said.
Weya said he believes the time has come for generational transition, political fairness, and issue-based leadership to take centre stage in ODM.
For Oburu, it is time to avoid contradictions and inconsistency to steer the party into the future.
