'We will not chase away anybody': ODM boss Oburu declares amid internal divisions

Following weeks of internal divisions with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga now says the party will not force anyone out, adding that members who wish to leave are free to do so of their own will.

Speaking during the public consultative forum at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra on Wednesday, Dr. Oburu clarified that the party has no intention of pushing out any member, even as it strengthens its internal structures and prepares for talks with other political formations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

"Tumekuja kutangaza ya kwamba, tutakuwa hapo (broad-based) mpaka 2027 lakini mbele, tutajadiliana na vyama vingine kwa sababu hatuwezi ngojea mpaka siku ya uchaguzi. Ni lazima tujitayarishe tukiwa na umoja," he stated.

"Hatuna nia ya kufukuza mtu yeyote kwa chama. Mtu akitaka kutoka, aondoke yeye mwenyewe pekee yake lakini sisi tunataka kuimarisha chama chetu na tunaanza kuongea na vyama vingine."

Oburu maintained that ODM yields political influence and must place itself in a strong negotiating position as it prepares for future political engagements.

“Sisi ndio chama kubwa kushinda vyama vingine vyote. Hatuwezi kuenda kwa meza kuongea na wengine tukiwa wanyonge,” he added.

ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga echoed the remarks, saying party members had agreed to protect the party’s political base while remaining supportive of the broad-based government arrangement.

“Tumekaa chini kama wanachama, tunajua Baba (Raila Odinga) alituacha ndani ya broad-based government lakini sisi ndio chama kubwa zaidi south of Sahara na north of River Limpopo. Wakati huu tunataka wanachama walinde ground,” said Wanga.

She noted that the party had given its leadership a mandate to push key priorities, including compensation for families affected during the recent political unrest.

“Tumempa nguvu zote party leader wetu, Dr. Oburu, kuhakikisha ile 10-point agenda imefikishwa, na kuhakikisha ya kwamba wale vijana wetu na familia ambazo zilipoteza watu wao wamepata compensation,” she said.

Wanga, who is also the Homa Bay Governor, further called for structured talks with like-minded parties.

“Tunataka party leader wetu aanzishe mazungumzo na vyama vingine ambavyo viko like-minded, tukianza na UDA,” she added.

ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati pointed out that the party leadership remains solid and dismissed concerns about Dr. Oburu’s age or capacity to lead.

“Mimi kama deputy party leader wa ODM nimechukua jukumu kuhakikisha ya kwamba ODM itasimama. Mheshimiwa Oburu tutashikiliana na yeye. Watu wanasema yeye ni mzee kidogo, apana. Mzee Oburu ameshinda baba kwa miaka miwili peke yake,” said Arati.

Arati expressed confidence that ODM would dominate Nairobi politics in the next election.

“Hapa Nairobi, nimekuwa mbunge hapa na naelewa vizuri siasa ya hapa. Gavana wa Nairobi lazima atakuwa wa ODM. Seneta na wabunge tisa lazima tuchukue zote,” he said.

“Msijali. Ile vita imekuwa katika chama tutahakikisha imetulia. Tutasema kila mtu acheze namba yake, asiguze ya mwingine,” Arati added.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who is also ODM’s deputy party leader, said the party will continue to hold consultative forums across the country ahead of the 2027 polls. 

“Hii Kenya kuna watu aina mbili. Kuna wanaotaka kuleta amani na mapenzi, na kisha kuna wale wanaojiita farasi lakini sisi tunawaita punda. Huyo punda ni wa ukabila, kuleta chuki, ufisadi na mgawanyiko,” said Nassir.

He stated that ODM leaders had agreed that early engagement with other parties was necessary.

“Tumesema party leader aanze mazungumzo rasmi. Hatutaki kuingia 2027 wakati hatujielewi. Tumesema tutazunguka Kenya, leo tumefika Kibera, kesho tutaenda kwingine,” he added.

The internal strife within ODM ensued after the passing of Raila Odinga, who was the party's founding leader and perennial presidential candidate.

The tension finally reached a boiling point when ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna traded accusations with the party’s Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed over the handling of campaign funds during Raila’s failed 2022 presidential bid. 

Sifuna accused Junet of pocketing campaign funds from former President Uhuru Kenyatta instead of paying agents; a claim the Senator said contributed to Raila’s defeat in key battlegrounds.

Junet, however, retorted by claiming that the funds were shared within Uhuru’s inner circle, and even partly to Sifuna himself. 

Further, ODM leader Oburu recently asserted his dominance, vowing to defeat party members eyeing his position as ODM’s presidential candidate should the party field one in the 2027 polls.

"But those who are saying that Oburu is not validly elected, I challenge them. If they say it's NDC, let us go with them to NDC. I will call it very soon," Oburu stated during the burial of his uncle's wife in Alego Usonga constituency, Siaya County, on January 10, 2026. 

It remains uncertain how ODM's political future will unfold and whether the party will be able to resolve its internal disputes.