By Anderson Ojwang

On Saturday evening, there was an emotional return and reconnection for Linda Mwananchi brigades with the spirit of the former party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and mentor, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, at Kango Ka Jaramogi in Bondo.

Six months after his burial, Raila’s militant wing of ODM paid homage at his graveside to draw inspiration for their new political dispensation.

After a successful rally in Vihiga County, Linda Mwananchi was at Kango Ka Jaramogi, Bondo. The home was thrown into a somber mood as the leaders and the residents broke down into tears.

Fresh and sad memories were evoked, and the reality of Raila’s absence became very prominent.

The teary and emotional moment saw some of the Linda Mwananchi brigades break down while others looked sad and disoriented by the reality of coming back to the graveside of Raila.

The historic move by Linda Mwananchi caught their opponents, Linda Ground, napping and could be a turning point in their power struggle.

Linda Ground is yet to pay homage to Raila’s graveside, and the move by their opponents caught them napping and left them punctured.

Linda Mwananchi is seen as Raila’s militant wing in the broad-based arrangement and his exit strategy from the broad-based arrangement with President William Ruto.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said it was the first time in six months after Raila’s burial that he had made a return to Kango Ka Jaramogi to reconnect with his mentor.

“It is my first time coming back here since we buried my boss six months ago. It has been a difficult six months for all of us. I do not know what to say. I honestly miss my boss,” he said.

Linda Mwananchi was received by Councilor Omondi Odinga, who took them to the graveside and later to the mausoleum.

Siaya Governor James Orengo said they paid homage to Raila to reconnect and for spiritual inspiration.

“Today, I led the Linda Mwananchi Movement to Kang’o Ka Jaramogi to honor the giants who paved the way. I returned to the roots of the struggle to pay homage to my mentor, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and my comrade, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga,” he said.

Orengo said the visit was meant to seek blessings from Raila and the doyen of opposition politics, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

“Before we take the stage, we seek the blessings of our elders and the spirit of the revolution. The foundation is solid. The mission is clear. Kisumu, we are ready. See you tomorrow!” he wrote on his social media platforms.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said Raila’s legacy was with Linda Mwananchi, and they will protect it at all cost.

“After our tour of Vihiga County, the Linda Mwananchi team made a visit to the gravesite of our leader, Raila Odinga, where we paid our respects and reflected on his enduring legacy of sacrifice, resilience and unwavering commitment to justice,” he said.

Osotsi said Raila’s struggle for a better Kenya was not in vain, and that is why they are sacrificing to ensure the struggle continues.

“We were reminded that Baba’s struggle has never been in vain, as it lives on in the hearts of millions of Kenyans who continue to believe in equity, democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

He said the homage was a moment of renewal and now they are ready to take the battle a notch higher.

“Our homage was also a moment of renewal of our collective resolve to carry forward the ideals he championed for decades. We also took time to tour the Jaramogi Mausoleum, a powerful symbol of the rich history and sacrifice of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. As the Linda Mwananchi team, we draw strength from this lineage of courage and conviction and remain steadfast in our mission to stand with the people, defend their rights, and ensure that the vision of a just and inclusive Kenya is realized,” he said.

Currently, Orengo and Dr Oburu Oginga, the ODM party leader, are engrossed in a power struggle. Oburu was recently confirmed as the party leader by the Special Delegates Conference, while Orengo at a rally in Nakuru last week declared himself the party leader.

By Anderson Ojwang

Linda Mwananchi has netted a big catch with the entry of former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju at the Kisumu rally.

Tuju, a close confidant of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, joins Siaya Governor James Orengo not only to lock Siaya County but also Nyanza from the broad-based coalition.

Tuju recently met with Orengo in Siaya, and his decision to join the faction is a boost and morale to the group.

This is the beginning of high-powered individuals showing open alignment with the Linda Mwananchi faction.

Tuju, viewed as a sober and unifying factor among the Luo politicians, puts the lethargic ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga on the cross.

Oburu, who is struggling to steer the ship, is faced with the daunting task of uniting the party and forming a coalition arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Oburu’s Linda Ground is struggling and wobbling, with infighting becoming a common denominator in the group.

Tuju is respected for having placed Rarieda on the development map and has a wide political network.

“I will be in Kisumu. We must give direction to our people. So much lies have been told, and it’s time we told the community the truth,” he said.

Tuju said Nyanza will not be used as toilet paper for cheap political achievement.

“I am in Kisumu, and we have a new dispensation for our community. I have been silent, but it is time we do not allow our community to be led astray by people who want to enrich themselves instead of supporting the community,” he said.

Tuju recently claimed his life was in danger and he was being trailed by unknown people.

Tuju showed his family two sites for burial should he be killed fighting for his property.

Tuju is a strategist and was the Azimio la Umoja Executive Director during the 2022 presidential elections.

Raila spent most of his time at Tuju’s home and hotel holding top strategic meetings.

For Oburu, he is being alienated day by day as top politicians and community members troop to the Linda Mwananchi wing.

Recently, Orengo said he had ousted Oburu as the party leader, saying he had failed to lead the party.

But Oburu on Friday dismissed the ouster, saying Orengo can only be the party leader of birds and not ODM.

By Anderson Ojwang

The party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Dr Oburu Oginga, has dismissed the alleged ouster by Siaya Governor James Orengo, saying he can only be party leader of birds.

Oburu, speaking in Bondo on Friday, said Orengo has no capacity to take over the leadership of ODM and was daydreaming.

“Orengo declared himself party leader. You can be party leader of trees, of the birds, or any other party. But you are certainly not the party leader of ODM by declaring yourself as the acting party leader,” he said.

Oburu told Orengo that he cannot wrestle the party leadership of ODM from him whatsoever.

“I don’t care if somebody goes and declares himself party leader. If you think you have the power to take over ODM, you are cheated,” he said.

Orengo last weekend at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Nakuru declared himself as the party leader, a move which was meant to unsettle the Siaya Senator who was recently confirmed as the party leader during the Special Delegates Conference held in Nairobi.

However, during the SDC, Oburu was only provided with the walking stick and the constitution of the party and the country as the instruments of power.

But conspicuously missing was the party registration certificate, the single most important document that defines party control and authority.

Former judge Justice Stewart Madzayo, who presided over the transition, said: “I, Stewart Madzayo, today I give the instruments of power. Inside the bag are Kenya’s constitution and the ODM constitution. We give this to Dr Oburu a walking stick to mark a new reign as our leader.”

Orengo claimed that he had ousted Oburu from the seat for failing to steer the party forward and adequately prepare for the 2027 general election.

“We know the Secretary General of ODM is Edwin Sifuna, and because Oburu is unable, now Orengo is the acting party leader of ODM. Thank you,” he said.

But ODM Director of Elections dismissed Orengo’s claims that he was the acting party leader of ODM as a figment of imagination.

“I have heard Orengo say he is party leader. Which party is that? Dr Oburu Oginga is the party leader of ODM. We are in broad-based government. We cannot leave it. We cannot follow Orengo in demos,” he said.

Junet said when the leader of Ford-K, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, died, Orengo wanted to be the party’s leader.

“Our leader is Oburu Oginga. We know where we are going, and our party is ODM, and we are in broad-based government,” he said.

Genesis of the battle

Orengo has dominated and monopolized his political battles with the Siaya Senator, edging him out to the periphery.

Orengo and Oburu first clashed over the ODM ticket for the Siaya senatorial seat, where he managed to isolate Oburu from the MPs from Siaya County.

In the 2013 elections, after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution which created the Senate seat, Orengo and Oburu engaged in a fierce contest over the seat.

Orengo expressed interest in the seat while Oburu also wanted to become the first senator for Siaya County.

In the contest, Orengo had the support of Siaya MPs led by the late Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, and Oburu was left exposed and a lonely man in the battle.

Midiwo then said that leaders from Siaya County would not support then Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Oginga’s quest for the county’s Senate seat.

“All elective positions in the county will be distributed based on equity and not greed of a clique of some politicians,” said Midiwo.

Oburu never forgave Jakoyo for forsaking him despite being his maternal cousin, and in the 2017 general elections, he fronted the current MP Elisha Odhiambo against the incumbent.

With the support of Jakoyo and other MPs, Oburu was forced to swallow humble pie and declared interest in the gubernatorial seat.

But at the ODM primaries, Oburu found that the current Siaya Deputy Governor Dr William Oduol had entrenched himself and won the disputed nomination.

The ODM party leadership opted to give the ticket to little-known Amoth Rasanga, who won the election, while Oburu was nominated to EALA.

The 2013 loss pushed Oburu to the political periphery, with Orengo becoming one of the key advisors of the late ODM party leader Raila Amolo Odinga.

Linda Ground versus Linda Mwananchi

For several decades, Oburu has been playing second fiddle to his younger brother, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, and only gained prominence after his elevation following Raila’s death.

But Oburu’s elevation has not been rosy, with Orengo appearing once again to challenge his leadership. Orengo is currently a principal of the Linda Mwananchi faction.

Orengo’s Linda Mwananchi wing is opposed to the pre-election coalition pact with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Oburu leads the Linda Ground faction, and recently during the SDC, Oburu was mandated to engage with President Ruto over the coalition.

Linda Mwananchi is growing from strength to strength while Linda Ground wobbles and faces internal disagreement over political zoning.

Recently, Oburu accused Orengo of trying to lead the community away from the broad-based government for his own political gain.

The political struggle

Orengo has dismissed Oburu as one who has never been at the forefront of political struggle, and that is why Raila became the heir to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

“Oburu has never been on the political front, never tasted teargas, and is not capable of leading ODM,” he said.

He said despite Oburu being born into a political family, he is mostly in the background, and this is why he has been on the periphery.

“Oburu was born in a political family. Most of his father’s life he was in the political background. He never tasted teargas. He has never been inside a police station. It was not by accident that Raila was the true heir. But he is a good man, but I think he cannot be able to lead the party in the right direction if he is being manipulated by characters in the party,” he said.

My shoes and a new chapter

Dr Oburu is steering the party through the transition and reorganizing the party despite the plots within Linda Ground and without to undermine his leadership.

“I have made my shoes, and I have started to walk. So I cannot fall. I want to tell you, Raila left us in a broad-based arrangement. I have been mandated by the party to negotiate with President Ruto. I am soon forming a strong team from ODM to lead the negotiations. We are not going to allow people to pull us backward. Things will not fall apart,” he said.

The last battle

Oburu has the last opportunity to avenge Orengo’s constant political humiliation or perish altogether. This is the opportunity for Oburu to rewrite history, or Orengo’s dominance over him will continue.