MOMBASA, Kenya — ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga has called for unity, discipline, and transparent party primaries as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) begins internal preparations for the 2027 General Election.
In a message delivered to party leaders attending a retreat in Mombasa on Monday, May 4, Oburu Oginga apologised for his absence but urged members to use the meeting to strengthen the party and resolve internal differences.
“Though I may not be with you physically, I am with you in spirit… I encourage all distinguished members to engage freely in discussions, deliberate wisely, and strategize effectively on the way forward,” he said.
Oburu thanked party organs, including the National Executive Committee and trustees, for their continued support and reaffirmed his commitment to leading ODM following the legacy of the late Raila Odinga.
“We acknowledge that our party leader… placed this party on the global map as one of the biggest and strongest political movements. It is therefore our duty to continue the great work that he began,” he stated.
Drawing a biblical analogy, Oginga said the party must remain focused despite leadership transitions. “The journey to Canaan continues… we must not stop. We are not there yet, and we must keep moving forward,” he added.
The ODM leader emphasised the importance of voter mobilisation, noting that registration levels in traditional strongholds remain low and require renewed effort.
“As we prepare for the next General Election… we owe the people loyalty, commitment, and dedicated service,” he said, urging leaders to prioritise grassroots engagement over early campaigning.
He cautioned that the campaign period had not officially begun, advising members to focus on service delivery to build public trust and strengthen the party’s electoral prospects.
A key highlight of his message was a firm commitment to credible party primaries. Oginga said his leadership legacy would be anchored on free, fair, and transparent nominations.
“Every contestant must be given a fair and equal opportunity… The only way we can prevent division… is by ensuring our primaries are conducted in a transparent manner,” he noted.
He warned against internal conflicts, saying divisions weaken the party and risk alienating supporters.
“We are one family with a party to protect. Loyalty and dedication must guide our actions,” he said.
Oginga also stressed the need for clear command structures within ODM, cautioning against conflicting public statements from party members.
“We can only have one command center. We cannot have multiple voices issuing conflicting party positions,” he said, adding that official communication would be coordinated through party leadership structures.
On coalition politics, he signalled that ODM is yet to begin formal negotiations and urged members to adopt a consultative approach before making endorsements.
“We are yet to begin our negotiations… before we start endorsing one another, ensure a thorough and consultative process is undertaken,” he stated.
