NAIROBI, Kenya — Oburu Odinga, elder brother to the late Raila Odinga, has pledged to preserve and modernize the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as it navigates a critical transition following the death of its long-time leader.
Speaking on Thursday, Oburu said his mission is to “safeguard Raila’s legacy while preparing ODM for a new generation of leadership.”
The 81-year-old Siaya Senator emphasized that ODM must remain politically independent, even as it cooperates with President William Ruto’s administration on matters of national development.
“We will not dissolve ODM into any other political entity,” he said. “But we are open to dialogue with the government on national unity, reforms, and service delivery.”
Raila Odinga, who died earlier this month, had dominated Kenyan opposition politics for over three decades. His passing has triggered widespread debate about succession within ODM, a party deeply intertwined with Kenya’s democratic reforms and opposition history.
Political analysts say Oburu’s emergence is both symbolic and strategic. “Oburu represents continuity, but ODM’s survival depends on how effectively it can reinvent itself beyond the Odinga family,” said Dr. Jane Thuo, a governance scholar at the University of Nairobi.
“The real test is whether the party can build new alliances and attract younger, reform-minded leaders before the 2027 polls.”
ODM’s National Executive Council is expected to convene next month to chart a transition roadmap. Insiders suggest that the party will consider holding early elections to fill key leadership positions, a move seen as part of efforts to stabilize its internal structures.
Despite calls from some members for ODM to merge with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Oburu dismissed such proposals, insisting that the party’s role as a constitutional opposition remains vital for Kenya’s democracy. “We must uphold checks and balances. ODM is not an appendage of the government,” he said.
Observers note that ODM’s cooperation with Ruto has been largely policy-driven, focusing on bipartisan talks and economic recovery measures under the National Dialogue Framework. Yet, the party risks alienating sections of its grassroots base that view collaboration with the ruling coalition as political capitulation.
“The post-Raila ODM must strike a delicate balance between pragmatism and principle,” said Prof. Macharia Munene, a political historian. “If Oburu can guide the transition with inclusivity, the party may retain its influence; if not, it could fragment before 2027.”
As ODM reflects on its future, Oburu’s stewardship will likely define how the party repositions itself in Kenya’s evolving political landscape—between loyalty to Raila’s reformist ideals and the necessity of adapting to a new political order.
