By Anderson Ojwang
Today, a year after the demise of the Enigma, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, a new chapter and a possible next political move by his daughter, Winnie Odinga, may come into play.
Winnie has kept everyone guessing about her political move, with family insiders intimating to Western Insight that she preferred to take a year to mourn and reconcile with the death of her father before making her next move.
And today, October 15, 2026, could be the day Winnie has been waiting for to announce her political direction, which could have a far-reaching impact on political realignments in the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Equally, today, she could also officially declare her intention to seek a share of the leadership of her father’s valued treasure, ODM, which is currently on a downward spiral, and take charge to halt the fall.
Winnie now has the opportunity to make a groundbreaking political move and walk out of her father’s shadow following his death to establish her own brand.
Today, Kenyans and the world will look to Winnie to answer the pressing questions about her next move.
Blocked ODM Leadership
Winnie could, after today, try to secure a position in the ODM leadership after her first attempt was thwarted.
Ahead of last year’s ODM National Special Delegates Conference, Winnie said the Nairobi branch must have a seat at the SNDC on March 27 because of its contribution and that ODM was her home.
“ODM is our home. ODM is the party my father built. Why should I leave and go where? I will remain in ODM. In this journey it has not been easy. We still have a place to go and the party position should be considered for those people who have put their lives in the struggle. It is in Nairobi where we demonstrate and not the villages. There are no demos in the villages. You cannot deny Nairobi its right. Nairobi must have a seat on the day. On March 27th, Nairobi will have our day and say,” she said.
ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulsamad Nassir said then that there was a possibility of Winnie being considered for one of the deputy party leader positions.
He said a proposal had been made by the Nairobi branch and that the SNDC could consider it after the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, was ratified by delegates at the convention.
“Winnie qualifies to be deputy party leader. There is a proposition which has been done by delegates in Nairobi. In this SNDC, the agenda has been published but in the same way we got into office,” he said.
However, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said Winnie qualified, but the SNDC had been convened for the purpose of ratifying the officials, and that an ordinary NDC would be held at the end of every fifth year.
The Recent Interview
In an interview with a Nigerian YouTube channel, Winnie said her decision to run for political office could not simply be based on being an Odinga for Odinga’s sake.
“The decision for me running cannot just be an Odinga for Odinga’s sake,” she said.
She said that Kenya was currently in a period of political transfers, with politicians changing alliances and parties ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“The manager is different now. The transfer window is open; people change teams. I believe it is a transfer window in Kenya. People will change teams,” she said.
Referencing events following the death of her grandfather and Raila’s subsequent political move based on convenience, Winnie remained open to different options.
“When my grandfather Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died, he was the leader of Ford Kenya. After he died, he moved around with the people of his age, and a lot of those people had a lot of trouble with my father because he was younger and he had different ideas,” she said.
The Movement
Winnie said her father could not compromise for convenience and subsequently moved on.
“He just moved differently. He wanted everything to remain, but he wrote in his book, if the time comes, whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in,” she said.
Winnie said that, faced with a similar situation, she would choose to walk alone rather than prioritise comfort and convenience.
“If the time comes, whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in, I will always pick the latter, and if that means I will walk alone, then I will walk alone,” she said.
History Repeating
Winnie said the current situation could be history repeating itself and that she would not ignore the will of the people.
“I feel that a similar situation may be happening and mimicking too. As much as I love this thing my father built, I have been part of building it.
“I understand, and I want this thing to have life. I cannot ignore the will of the people that I represent, and they still have anger, they still have frustrations,” she said.
Winnie said her political decision would be influenced by the feelings of the people and that she would not compromise.
“The decision is, I have to be able to capture the feelings of the people I want to represent adequately,” she said.
The People Will Decide
Winnie said that if ODM did not listen to the people, she would have no option but to leave.
“If this vehicle is hell-bent on opposing the feelings of what they want, then I am left optionless.
“I will stand with the right I believe in and will not compromise. I will not compromise them for convenience or comfort,” she said.
Ruto Support
Winnie said she had not decided whether to support President William Ruto’s re-election.
“I have not decided to support Ruto in 2027,” she said.
However, the current ODM party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, who is her uncle, has declared full support for President Ruto’s second term.
ODM NDC
Winnie said it was the responsibility of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to decide whether to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Elections.
“On the ODM party presidential candidate, we will have a national delegates conference this year, and that is where the decision will be made,” she said.
