Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga to Lead High-Stakes ODM Rally at Kamukunji Amid Party Factional Tensions

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga is set to lead a crucial ODM rally at Nairobi’s historic Kamukunji Grounds on Wednesday, January 14. The meeting is described as a consultative engagement with party members and supporters. It comes at a delicate time for the Orange Democratic Movement, which has faced internal divisions since Raila Odinga’s death.

The choice of Kamukunji is symbolic. The venue evokes Raila Odinga’s legacy and past defining moments in Kenyan politics. By holding the rally there, the party seeks to draw on that legacy while signaling a new direction under Oburu’s leadership. Analysts say the rally aims to reconnect the party with its traditional support base and steady it amid ongoing leadership realignments and factional disagreements.

Details of the event were shared by Gabriel Oguda, a political columnist and committee member overseeing the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 pm, but Oguda urged supporters to arrive early. “If you’re a member of the ODM Party living in or around Nairobi, the Party Leader Sen. (Dr) Oburu Oginga will tomorrow have a consultative engagement at the Kamukunji grounds in Kibra Constituency. We begin at 2 pm, but you can arrive as early as tonight to sleep at your space; because we cannot promise you a seat once the sea of humanity begins trickling in early morning,” Oguda said.

The rally is seen as both symbolic and strategic. Leaders will directly engage with members and articulate the party’s direction. “Tomorrow, they will finally believe,” Oguda added, emphasizing the importance of the turnout. Observers say the event will test Oburu’s leadership and ODM’s ability to unify after Raila’s passing.

Kamukunji Grounds links the party’s past to its future. The venue has hosted many of Raila’s defining pronouncements. Large crowds and intense media coverage are expected. Analysts suggest the rally could shape ODM’s strategy ahead of upcoming political contests. The consultative engagement is seen as a step toward restoring party cohesion and demonstrating ODM’s continued relevance in Kenya’s political landscape.