“We Are Not There Blindly”: Oburu Oginga Defends ODM’s Role In Broad-Based Government

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Oburu Oginga has moved to quiet internal dissent over the party’s association with President William Ruto’s administration, asserting that ODM’s participation in the broad-based government is intentional, strategic, and guided by structured negotiations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Addressing supporters virtually during the closing rally of the month-long Mwezi wa Baba celebrations at Nairobi’s Jacaranda Grounds on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Oburu dismissed claims that the party had joined hands with the ruling coalition blindly or unconditionally.

“We are in this broad-based government, and we are not there blindly,” Oburu declared. “Raila did not go there blindly, and we are not ourselves there in this broad-based government blindly. We are there consciously, and we are there knowing what we are doing.”

Oburu clarified the operational distinction between their current alignment and a formal political partnership, noting that a broad-based government operates under a completely different framework than a structured coalition.

To manage the engagement within legal and statutory boundaries, the party has appointed a five-member technical team to handle ongoing policy and constitutional frameworks. Oburu revealed that a dedicated coalition negotiation team—appointed jointly by ODM and President Ruto’s camp—will be established before February 2027 to chart the formal way forward.

“Immediately after that, we had promised that before February next year we are going to have a coalition team, which will be completely different from the technical team,” he explained.

Addressing public friction among party leaders regarding whether to back President Ruto’s reelection conditionally or unconditionally, Oburu called for party discipline and warned members against making statements that contradict official party policy.

“If you want to express your own view, don’t express it against the policy of the party. If you are a member of the party, please be disciplined and follow the policies of your party as we move towards the 2027 General Election,” Oburu urged.

The rally concluded the month-long Mwezi wa Baba events honoring the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Oburu praised his late brother’s lifelong fight against oppression, describing ODM as one of the most powerful political movements in Africa.

Oburu also thanked Kenyans for their prayers and quick recovery wishes during his recent illness, expressing confidence in the party’s direction.

The Jacaranda Grounds event brought together key ODM and government figures, including Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.