By Anderson Ojwang
The chicken may finally be coming home to roost, and the truth behind the brainchild of the formation of the broad-based arrangements is beginning to unravel.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Odinga, chose the home of his grandfather, Kodima, in Alego, to respond to his critics over the delicate management of the broad-based arrangement, which was between President William Ruto of UDA and the late Raila Amolo Odinga of ODM.
During the ODM celebrations held last November in Mombasa, Winnie called for the National Delegates Conference (NDC) to choose a new team to manage the broad-based arrangement with President William Ruto.
“There is something I wanted to tell you. When it came to the matter of the broad-based government, the people of ODM entrusted one person with the management of that relationship. That person was Baba Raila Amolo Odinga.
That relationship is complicated, and therefore we are looking and wondering: those who are taking it upon themselves to manage it now, are they capable of managing that relationship?
I don’t think that is the question for me to answer. That is the question for the people of ODM to answer. That is why the party leader is requesting that we go back to the people and have an NDC to see who the people want to pick to manage that same relationship,” she said.
The Chairman
But on Friday, Oburu opened the lid of the can by declaring that he has been the one chairing all the broad-based meetings between Raila and Ruto, which probably makes him the brainchild and the chief negotiator of the arrangement.
“Those who are saying that Oburu is not validly elected, I challenge them. If they say it is the NDC, let us go with them to the NDC, and I will call it very soon,” he said.
Oburu said he is the one who has been chairing all the broad-based arrangements between Ruto and the late Raila.
“Those who are saying Oburu does not talk are talking nonsense. In this broad-based arrangement, I want to assure those who are saying that it was only Raila who could handle it and that Oburu does not know anything about it.
I want to tell them that all the meetings of the broad-based arrangements with Ruto, the chairman has been Oburu Odinga before you here today,” he said.
How Oburu presided over the broad-based Cabinet appointments
Dr Oburu revealed that the meeting which culminated in the appointment of ODM experts into President Ruto’s Cabinet was chaired by him.
He negotiated for the Cabinet slots and the 14 Permanent Secretary positions.
“I have been the chairman of the meetings, including the one which appointed Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, and Hassan Joho to the Cabinet.
I want to tell you that we currently have 14 Permanent Secretaries in this government, as well as directors. We got into this government by accident because the government was shaken by Gen Z,” he said.
Establishment of a team to negotiate with UDA for 2027
Dr Oburu said ODM will form a team to negotiate with President Ruto on new coalition alliance terms. He said the first preference will be given to President Ruto.
“Now, as we approach 2027, we are not going to get into government through the back door. We are going to have a negotiated arrangement, which will be headed by me.
It will not be an easy negotiation but a tough one. We will get our share. 2026 is the year of negotiations for any arrangements.
Either we go into partnership with UDA or any other party.
We will soon establish a negotiation team and start negotiating with others because it is difficult for a party to go it alone without seeking the support of other parties.
The negotiations will start with our current partners in the broad-based arrangement. We shall only go to the others if we do not agree,” he said.
The catch and the way out
As Dr Oburu prepares to unveil the team, will he be leading a faction in a divided house, or will he accommodate dissenting voices, harmonise, and unite the party before engaging in the negotiations?
During Raila’s posthumous birthday, his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, asked the party leadership not to kill the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
She asked the party leadership to prioritise dialogue over wrangles to avoid disintegration and to preserve Raila’s legacy.
“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honour as a matter of service to our country. I want to appeal to those Baba left in the leadership of the party to reflect deeply and sincerely on his dreams for the party and for our country,” she said.
Ida said Raila always consulted on party matters, and this provided room to find solutions to any emerging disputes in the party.
“Baba had a love for ODM. Baba ran ODM with dedication, firm and fair hands. Raila ran ODM on the principle of constant consultations and always referring to the people,” she said.
Ida challenged the current leaders in the party to give dialogue a chance and follow Raila’s footsteps in resolving disputes within the party.
“Let us solve the problems of the party by always asking ourselves: what would Baba do under these circumstances?
I guess your guess is as good as mine. I am sure Baba would tell us to sit down and talk, and that is my wish—to sit down and talk out our differences,” she said.
