Oburu Oginga Dares ODM Rebels to Quit in Explosive Kibera Rally
Senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga has issued a firm response to party members threatening to defect, telling dissatisfied leaders they are free to leave if they no longer believe in the party’s direction. His remarks came amid growing internal tensions within ODM as it begins early manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 14, at Kamkunji Grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, Oburu addressed a charged crowd during ODM’s first major public rally following the death of its long-time leader Raila Odinga. The meeting was widely viewed as a symbolic attempt to reaffirm party unity and chart a path forward in a new political era.
Oburu made it clear that the party would not force anyone to stay, nor would it pursue expulsions as a political strategy.
“We must walk together, and we have no intention to remove anyone. If someone wants to leave, let them leave alone,” he told supporters.
“If we want to negotiate, we must come together so as to negotiate from a point of strength,” he added. “We cannot go to the negotiation table when the party is divided.”
His comments come against the backdrop of an emerging rift within ODM, with a faction of lawmakers openly challenging recent party decisions. Tensions escalated in recent days after a group of ODM MPs, led by Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, warned of a possible mass exit if the party moved to discipline or expel Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over alleged party infidelity.
Although Oburu did not mention Sifuna by name during the rally, his remarks were widely interpreted as a direct response to the dissenting voices. He defended the party’s internal processes and called for patience and dialogue rather than threats of defection.
At the Kamkunji gathering, Oburu also defended the Central Management Committee (CMC) resolution to initiate pre-coalition talks ahead of the 2027 polls. The decision was reached during a CMC meeting held in Kilifi earlier in the week.
According to the resolution, ODM plans to begin exploratory talks with several political parties, including President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), as part of a broader strategy to consolidate national support and remain politically competitive.
“Negotiations are not betrayal; they are part of building a strong party and a strong country,” Oburu said, insisting that engagement with other parties was necessary in Kenya’s coalition-driven political landscape.
The Kibera rally attracted several senior ODM officials, among them party chairperson Gladys Wanga and deputy party leaders Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and Simba Arati. Their presence was seen as an attempt to project unity at a time when the party faces growing scrutiny over its internal cohesion.
However, the absence of key figures did not go unnoticed. Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino were among notable ODM leaders who skipped the rally, further fuelling speculation about deepening divisions within the party.
Political analysts say Oburu’s blunt challenge reflects a shifting tone within ODM as it navigates leadership transitions and strategic realignments following Raila Odinga’s death.
By daring dissatisfied members to leave, observers argue, the party leadership is signalling that it is prepared to move forward with those willing to align with its collective decisions, even if that means shedding some high-profile figures.
Whether the hardline stance will restore discipline or accelerate fractures within ODM remains to be seen, as the party pushes ahead with coalition talks and preparations for the 2027 General Election.
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Oburu Oginga Dares ODM Rebels to Quit in Explosive Kibera Rally
