By Anderson Ojwang’
Baba, while you went away on October 15th, 2026, never to return, Kenya became a cocktail of events.
While they mourned, converged both in Nairobi and Bondo, with delegations continuing to pay homage to Kango ka Jaramogi, it has never been the same.
Baba, from the destruction of the soul of your treasured asset, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), your perennial rival-turned-ally revealed your alleged ‘stolen’ victories, to your friend, business magnate Aliko Dangote, arriving in Kenya and launching Sh2.2 trillion Lamu Oil Refinery and the folding of your 2022 presidential vehicle, Azimio La Umoja, among other episodes.
Uhuru
Baba, as we waited for your anniversary, former President Uhuru Kenyatta said he believed you won the 2022 presidential elections.
Baba, former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria revealed the number of times you have been rigged of your victory.
“Raila won the election. I am convinced he won the presidential elections. I know that, we know, those who want to know, know the truth you,” he said.
Uhuru said Azimio La Umoja won the majority of MPs, Senators and governors’ seats against President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
“We had more MPs than the coalition. We had more senators and governors than the other coalition. How did we lose this? We know how it went and we do not want to go that route again,” he said.
The ODM
Baba, while you travelled never to return, your elder brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, became your heir and he is the current party leader.
But in your absence, Oburu sacked your last Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna, and replaced him with Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo.
Baba, Sifuna described your elder brother as incompetent and said that he could not be his Secretary-General.
Split in the party
Baba, while you rested never to wake up, your party split into two factions, Linda Ground, closely associated with the broad-based government. The key architects are National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Deputy Party Leaders Simba Arati and Abdulsammad Nassir, among others. Baba, the Linda Ground could weather the emerging political storm and reverted to ODM.
Baba, the other faction, Linda Mwananchi, which most of your advisers claimed was your fallback point and the militant wing, became too popular and is fast overtaking your ODM in its strongholds.
Baba, Linda Mwananchi is fronted by Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Mutation
Baba, as you sleep, Linda Mwananchi has finally birthed three political parties, Mwananchi Party, LDP and The Equitable Party.
Who told you
Baba, while during your last session with ODM legislators, you asked them who told you ODM would not have a presidential candidate.
Baba, Sifuna has declared his presidential ambition and emerged as one of the favourites. Yes, Baba, who told them?
But your ODM party, Baba, has declared support for President William Ruto’s second term and is requesting the Deputy President and running mate slots.
Baba money talks
Baba, while you rest, your ODM party has become financially fluid and hosted a rally in Kisumu at a tune of Sh100M. Your younger sister, Ruth Odinga, decried the overnight amount of money flowing into the party that was being used to hold rallies and functions in high-end hotels.
Baba, while you were alive, you relied on donations from goodwill. Currently, ODM is enjoying a newfound financial muscle despite the Government’s failure to pay Sh12B debt owed to the party.
Gor Mahia
Baba, as we waited for your anniversary, Gor Mahia won the Premier League but lost in the finals of the Kagame CECAFA Clubs Champions.
Baba, Pyramids mauled your team both at home and away, which forced the management to suspend two players as they investigated the loss.
Owalo
Baba, as you soundly slept, your successor at Gor Mahia as the patron, Eliud Owalo, was forced to resign from the office as he was illegally elected to the post.
Ukombozi
The opposition have dropped the name and rebranded Azimio La Umoja to Ukombozi Coalition, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the chairman.
The move draws the battle line to a contest between Ukombozi Coalition against the Broad-Based Alliance.
Uhuru ni Sponyo
Baba, while you were away, Ruto called Uhuru Sponyo to the opposition.
He recently termed Uhuru as a rebel and sponsor of the opposition against his Government.
Jirongo followed you
Baba, the founder of Youth for Kanu 92 died in a road accident along Naivasha Highway.
Raila Junior
Baba, your son Raila Junior declared his interest in the Kibra parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Winnie
Baba, they refused to give your daughter Winnie a seat in the ODM even after Nairobi County presented her case at the Special National Delegates Conference.
Mama Ida
Baba, President Ruto appointed your wife, Mama Ida Betty, to be the Permanent Representative to UNEP.
Baba, on the 15th of this month, we shall mark your first anniversary and the first time you will not be a presidential candidate.
In the vacuum, we shall surge on and Kenya will be great again.
