Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has confirmed convening a family meeting on February 1, 2026, to address internal differences within the larger Odinga family over the future direction of the party.
Speaking at his Riat home in Kisumu on Saturday, Oburu acknowledged that younger members of the family are entitled to hold divergent views, describing such debates as a normal part of political life. However, he emphasized his role as the guiding figure tasked with resolving the issues.
“The internal family conversation as I said are issues which are important to resolve and I’m equal to the task and called a meeting on 1st February where we are going to deal with those issues,” Oburu stated.
Balancing Debate and Discipline
Oburu stressed that while democracy allows for debate, party discipline must prevail once collective decisions are made.
“People express different opinions as they can’t think the same. What’s important is discipline. Once a decision is made by an organ that includes a member, that member has no right to publicly take an opposing position after participating in that decision,” he noted.
He cautioned against what he termed “destructive criticism,” warning that public dissent after internal decisions undermines party unity.
ODM’s Political Direction
The ODM leader reiterated that the party will remain independent, retaining flexibility to negotiate either to govern alone or within a coalition.
“Our strength is in our numbers, and that is what we will use to negotiate,” Oburu remarked.
His comments come amid growing dissent from Raila Odinga’s children, Winnie Odinga and Raila Odinga Jr, who have publicly expressed frustration over attempts by some leaders to sideline younger voices.
Voices of the Younger Generation
Winnie Odinga recently accused unnamed figures of exploiting her father’s death for narrow political interests.
“We will not leave this party that we fought for. We paid the price for this movement when it mattered. You cannot copy and paste Baba. ODM cannot be sold or hijacked,” she said during a public forum in Kibra.
Raila Odinga Jr echoed her sentiments, stressing the importance of freedom of expression within the party.
“Kila mtu ana uhuru wa kuzungumza,” he said, adding that ODM should remain tolerant of internal debate.
The Odinga siblings have signalled alignment with the faction led by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who are pushing for leadership change through a National Delegates Conference (NDC).
Looking Ahead to 2027
While younger leaders have called for a “younger Joshua” to take over ODM’s leadership, Oburu has maintained his position as party leader and indicated he intends to be ODM’s presidential flagbearer should the party contest the top office in the 2027 polls.
Conclusion
The upcoming family meeting on February 1 is expected to be pivotal in shaping ODM’s internal cohesion and political strategy. As generational tensions play out within the Odinga family, the party faces the challenge of balancing tradition, discipline, and the demands of a younger, outspoken faction ahead of the next election cycle.
