Oburu Gives Ruto Conditions For Rejoining ODM

NAIROBI, Kenya — Orange Democratic Movement interim party leader Oburu Oginga has opened the door for President William Ruto to return to the opposition outfit, but only if he is willing to face stiff competition for the party’s presidential ticket in 2027.

Speaking in a candid television interview on Tuesday night, Dr Oginga said the President would not automatically become ODM’s flagbearer should he abandon his United Democratic Alliance party and rejoin the political home he helped establish nearly two decades ago.

“We want ODM to be strong so that those seeking us will have to adhere to our terms. If Ruto sees that ODM is very attractive, he may just return since he is one of the founders who had even confirmed attendance to our party’s 20th anniversary. However, he should be ready to be subjected to competition with other suitable candidates,” the Siaya Senator declared.

The remarks come as ODM charts a new course following the death of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga earlier this year.

Oburu Odinga and President Ruto

Dr Oginga, who assumed the interim leadership mantle somewhat unexpectedly, revealed he only learned of his appointment from National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed while at Kasarani stadium.

President Ruto’s political relationship with ODM stretches back to 2007, when he was among the pentagon of leaders who formed the party’s original leadership structure alongside Mr Odinga, the late Musalia Mudavadi, Najib Balala and Joseph Nyagah.

He bolted from the outfit in 2012 to join forces with Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the 2013 general election.

Dr Oginga’s conditional welcome signal represents a significant shift in ODM’s positioning as it seeks to rebuild its political machinery ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The interim leader emphasized that the party is working to become a formidable force capable of fielding a competitive presidential candidate and forming the next government.

Beyond the Ruto question, Dr Oginga used the interview to address succession matters within both the party and the broader Luo community.

In a telling statement that has reverberated across political circles, he suggested that leadership should pass to younger, more energetic figures who spent years learning at Mr Odinga’s side rather than his contemporaries.

“The way I am seeing it, Raila’s peers should go with him. Personally I prefer that other leaders who were around Raila take over from him but not us his age mates,” Dr Oginga said, hinting at his interim role as a bridge to a new generation of leadership.

Among the youthful leaders whose names have been floated for the party’s top positions are Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

Dr Oginga disclosed that he is actively reaching out to Mr Owino to assure him of fair treatment in the upcoming Nairobi gubernatorial nominations, addressing concerns that the firebrand legislator might decamp over fears of being shortchanged.

“I hear that there are things that are disturbing Babu Owino that he will be short-changed in the Nairobi gubernatorial nominations. If he clinches the ODM nominations for Nairobi, he will carry our flag. He should not run away from the party based on assumptions, yet he is one of our own children,” Dr Oginga stated.

The interim leader also acknowledged ongoing tensions within the party, particularly in Kakamega, Busia, Nyando and other regions where internal differences are affecting grassroots support. He identified resolving these disputes as a priority to prevent further fractures in the party structure.

Dr Oginga’s comments about Mr Sifuna were equally revealing. While acknowledging that the outspoken Nairobi Senator sometimes goes overboard with his statements, he affirmed that Mr Sifuna remains a strong party member who will not be pushed out.

As ODM navigates this transitional period, Dr Oginga’s strategy appears focused on consolidating the party’s base, attracting new members, and preparing for what he envisions as a competitive 2027 campaign. He indicated that a detailed roadmap for the party’s future will be released after the mourning period for Mr Odinga concludes.

The prospect of President Ruto returning to ODM, while seemingly remote given his position as the sitting head of state and UDA party leader, underscores the fluid nature of Kenyan politics where yesterday’s rivals can become tomorrow’s allies. Whether the President would ever consider such a dramatic political realignment remains unclear, but Dr Oginga has made it clear that any such move would come with strings attached.

For now, ODM finds itself at a crossroads, balancing respect for its storied past with the urgent need to reinvent itself for a future without the towering figure who defined its identity for nearly two decades.