Oburu Oginga: ODM will not sink under my watch
Nyanza
By
Anne Atieno
| Nov 19, 2025
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga is putting on a brave face in the wake of controversies that have dogged the 20-year-old party, as he dismissed those he claimed were attempting to divide the party.
According to Oburu, those who think the party will be divided are dreaming. He maintained that they are keen to strengthen the party and will do everything to ensure that the party remains strong.
Oburu spoke as various powers continue to fight for the soul of the party even as some members also called for his resignation and demanded for a National Delegates Convention.
While speaking at a funeral in Nyaburu village, Rongo Sub-County, Migori County, the party leader said there were those who wanted to think or break ODM in their imaginations.
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The ODM party leader vowed that the party will never sink under his watch.
“I'm telling you that those are very futile imaginations. We shall not allow ODM to be divided,” Dr. Oburu said.
He encouraged more people to join the party, saying that having more members would give them bargaining power.
“Politics is numbers. When negotiating, someone takes you seriously when you have numbers,” Oburu remarked.
Moreover, the ODM party leader defended a broad-based government, saying that it was not made for personal gains but for the people of ODM.
According to Oburu, the broad-based government was to ensure that our people get their fair share of the national cake.
He pointed out that he would negotiate seriously and make sure that people get their fair share of the National cake.
“We are not going to be ignored,” Oburu said.
He vowed not to lead the ODM party to the opposition, but rather to the government.
Oburu who asked ODM members to trust him committed to ensure that the party is in government.
“There is nothing like forming a party to be in the opposition. I'll work tirelessly to make sure that we succeed,” the party leader stated.
Oburu said they were going to move forward and make ODM stronger so that when it reached 2027, they were either going to do it alone or with parties with which they would negotiate and get a good deal to work together.
Oburu who stated that he never campaigned to become the Party Leader said he was aware that he was being pushed forth and back and speared here and there.
According to Oburu, Raila's shoes were so big that he could not say that he will wear them alone.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, who echoed the party leader’s sentiments, said that Oburu could not be uprooted from the leadership of ODM.
“It is not culturally right for a child to tell their elder to stand and let them have a seat. Our work is to make the seat Oburu is sitting on firmly rooted,” Governor Ayacko said.
He expressed their contentment in Oburu being firm and experienced.
According to the governor, Oburu has mastered all the tricks of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
He stressed the need for everyone in ODM to safeguard all networks and ideals for the party to move forward.
Rongo MP Paul Abuor said that whatever was happening was symbolic of a great leader.
“We are going far,” Mr. Abuor said.
He asked Oburu to remain focused and never drop the ball.
Nyando MP Jared Okello pointed out that there were some enemies who were not speaking the same language as they were.
“They are trying to question why Dr. Oburu is the ODM party leader. There was no one who had the capacity of becoming party leader at such a time aside from Oburu Odinga,” Mr. Okello stated.
He criticized dissenting voices, pointing to another street's protest.
According to the legislator, one of the instructions that Raila gave them before he passed on was not to go back to the streets.