“Mtu Akitaka Aondoke Mwenyewe”: Oburu Oginga Calms ODM Storm and Firmly Rules Out Expulsions Amid Growing Party Tensions

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has stepped in to calm rising tensions in the Orange Democratic Movement. He assured members that no expulsions will happen. This is despite deep divisions within the party. His remarks came during ODM’s first major rally since the death of Raila Odinga.

Oburu spoke to thousands of supporters at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibera on Wednesday, January 14. He urged calm and unity. He said disagreements should not divide the party. According to him, ODM must move forward together during this difficult transition.

The party is currently split. One faction supports continued engagement in the broad-based government. Another opposes any cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration. The dispute has played out publicly. Some leaders have called for disciplinary action. Oburu rejected those calls.

He said ODM will remain in the broad-based government until 2027. However, he noted the party is already preparing for future negotiations. He stressed the need for early planning. Waiting until election season, he warned, would weaken the party.

Oburu also highlighted ODM’s numerical strength across the country. He said the party remains the largest political outfit in Kenya. Internal wrangles, he argued, only reduce bargaining power. Unity, he said, is a strategic necessity.

The rally also served another purpose. It allowed party members and residents to engage ODM leadership. Many raised concerns about the party’s future. Raila Odinga’s death in October 2025 left a leadership gap. That vacuum has exposed deep fault lines.

Still, Oburu called for restraint. He warned against public infighting. He said it damages the party’s image. It also weakens its negotiating position.

Oburu made his stance clear. ODM will not expel anyone. Members who wish to leave should do so voluntarily. He said the party’s focus is growth, not punishment.

As ODM charts its next phase, Oburu’s message was firm. Unity must come first. Strength comes from togetherness. “Division,” he warned, “only serves opponents.”