Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga says the Orange Democratic Movement has not decided whether it will back President William Ruto in 2027 or field its own candidates, insisting the party will only take a position after consulting its grassroots.
Speaking at the Lugari home of the late Cyrus Jirongo, Oburu said ODM’s future direction would be shaped by collective party decisions, not the preferences of individual leaders.
“I am nothing without the people. They are the ones who give me leadership,” Oburu said, adding that once the party agrees on a position, all members will be expected to speak with one voice.
He stressed that ODM’s focus is on rebuilding and uniting the party ahead of the next election, noting that its strength lies in institutions rather than personalities. Oburu said the party is developing a 10-point agenda to guide its politics up to 2027 while working to expand its support base.
On the question of alliances, Oburu said ODM would make a final call closer to the election, either contesting independently or entering a negotiated arrangement with its current partners in government.
“When 2027 comes, we will either go it alone as ODM or work with others through a negotiated deal that fully involves the party,” he said.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said the party’s younger leaders are ready to take the lead in pushing for accountability and justice, warning that development cannot be used to justify repression.
“It doesn’t matter if you build roads when people are living in fear,” Sifuna said, adding that he would not be silenced in speaking out on issues of justice.
Since the death of Raila Odinga in October 2025, ODM has been grappling with internal divisions, with some members calling for a break from the broad-based government deal with President Ruto, while others have openly backed his re-election bid, exposing growing fault lines within the party.
