NAIROBI, Kenya —ODM Boss, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has dismissed statements made by National Assembly Majority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and Nominated MP John Mbadi, insisting that the two no longer represent the official position of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“Mbadi, Wandayi, and other ODM leaders who joined the government don’t speak on behalf of ODM. They have to resign from government if they wish to continue representing the party,” Oburu stated.
The senator, a veteran ODM stalwart and elder brother to the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, said the party must draw a clear line between loyalty to the opposition and collaboration with the ruling coalition.
He emphasized that ODM remains committed to Azimio la Umoja’s opposition mandate and cannot allow “double allegiance” within its ranks.
His remarks come amid growing tensions within ODM following reports that some party MPs have been cooperating with the Kenya Kwanza administration on budgetary and policy matters. The friction underscores internal debates about the party’s identity and leadership direction in the post-Raila era.
Political observers view Oburu’s comments as a sharp warning against political opportunism, aimed at preserving ODM’s ideological purity and unity ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The ODM party must speak with one voice,” Oburu said. “Those who have chosen to work with government have made their choice, but they should not use ODM’s name to legitimize it.”
The senator also reiterated his confidence in ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, calling him the party’s legitimate spokesperson. His remarks reinforce his earlier statement that Sifuna “communicates the true position of ODM” and has been doing “a good job” in steering the party’s messaging.
Neither Wandayi nor Mbadi had publicly responded to Oburu’s statements by press time. However, both leaders have in the past defended their cooperation with government agencies as “strategic engagement” intended to serve their constituents’ interests.
Analysts suggest that Oburu’s intervention reflects a broader realignment within ODM, as senior figures work to consolidate the party’s base and define its future leadership in Kenya’s shifting political landscape.
