Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates in Kisumu County have firmly declared that there is no vacant leadership position in the party, throwing their full weight behind Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga as the current party leader.
The delegates made the declaration on Tuesday during a meeting held at the ODM offices in Kisumu Central, where they unanimously endorsed resolutions passed by the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting, chaired by Dr Oburu Oginga in Kilifi on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, ODM Kisumu County Chairman Paul Akeyo said the county’s delegates fully support both the Kilifi resolutions and Dr Oburu’s leadership, insisting that the matter of party leadership was settled last year.
“On behalf of the Kisumu County ODM delegates and our leaders, we want to state clearly that we fully support the resolutions passed by the party’s Central Management Committee in Kilifi. We give them 100 per cent support and urge our party leader, who chaired that meeting, to go ahead and implement all the resolutions,” Akeyo said.
Akeyo dismissed claims of a leadership vacuum, noting that Dr Oburu was endorsed during the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) held in Mombasa in November last year. He said the party is now only awaiting the fourth NDC to formally confirm the leadership positions.
He further urged Dr Oburu to proceed with talks with like-minded political parties ahead of the 2027 General Election, while safeguarding the 10-point agenda initiated by former Prime Minister and ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
“We want to confirm that the ODM party leader is none other than Dr Oburu Oginga. This was resolved in Mombasa during the NDC, and we are now waiting for the fourth NDC to confirm his leadership. We urge him to take the lead in pre-election talks with like-minded parties so that we can form the next government, while protecting the 10-point agenda initiated by Baba,” Akeyo said.
Echoing his remarks, Kisumu County Coordinating Committee Vice Chair Seth Ochieng Kanga stated that the party had already given Dr Oburu and the CMC the mandate to engage with President William Ruto on possible coalition arrangements. He added that the broad-based political approach had already been sanctioned by Raila Odinga.
Kanga said Kenya’s political landscape was now shaped around two major camps, arguing that a UDA–ODM alliance offered the strongest platform for stable governance.
“The party gave the leadership and the CMC the mandate to hold talks with the President and negotiate on behalf of ODM. We fully support the resolutions passed in Kilifi. All elected leaders in Kisumu County are behind Dr Oburu Oginga. There is no vacancy in ODM,” Kanga said.
Kisumu Central Sub-County ODM Assistant Secretary Prisca Auma Misachi also warned politicians she accused of destabilising the party, saying they would “sink alone” and not drag ODM down with them.
Misachi said the former party leader gave clear direction before his death, adding that Dr Oburu had remained faithful to that path. She assured him of unwavering support from delegates in Kisumu Central and vowed to defend him against internal and external distractions.
“Our former party leader gave us direction, and Dr Oburu Oginga is still on the right path. Those rocking the boat from below will sink alone. We are behind him without blinking our eyes. Walk straight; we will guard and walk with you day and night. We are only waiting for the NDC to confirm what the CMC already passed,” Misachi said.
The Kisumu position mirrors sentiments expressed by governors from the Western region, led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who addressed the media on Tuesday to affirm their support for Dr Oburu Oginga and President William Ruto. Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and Vihiga Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo also backed the resolutions passed by the ODM CMC in Kilifi, signalling support for a broad-based government and a possible coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
