Oburu: ODM will not surrender strongholds in UDA negotiations

ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga has said that the party will not cede its strongholds as it enters into negotiations with the UDA party in pursuit of coalition building prior to the 2027 General Election.

Oburu, who officially took over as the party leader after being endorsed during a Special Delegates Conference held at Jamhuri showground in Nairobi, extended an olive branch to leaders allied to ODM Linda Mwananchi faction of the party.

The Siaya Senator who is the leader of the ODM Linda Ground faction said that they are not going to expel any leader from the party even as the delegates failed to endorse Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi as one of the Deputy Party Leaders. 

“I would like to assure our members that even as they have mandated us to negotiate with like-minded parties like UDA we have an irreducible minimum of not ceding any of our strongholds to our rivals as we get to the negotiation table,” said Oburu.

The Siaya Senator said that they were keen to take over power and that it was difficult for any party to go it alone in a General Election and succeed and that for the last 20 years the party has always engaged other parties in talks on government formation. 

Oburu said that since ODM Party was formed it has advocated for devolution and parliamentary system which former President Mwai Kibaki was against which led to the party winning the 2007 presidential election with Raila’s victory being stolen.

He said that the party will continue championing the interests of counties and the strengthening of the parliamentary system of government values that his late brother Raila fought for his entire life since he believed in taking power closer to the people.

“During my leadership I will not encourage indiscipline in the party since democracy does not encourage chaos, even as a Party Leader even if I do not agree with the decisions of the majority I will have to abide by them,” said Oburu. 

The ODM Party leader wondered why some individuals were imagining that he can sell the party saying that at his age he cannot be bought by anyone and that he was keen to pursue the ideals set by the late Raila who he said sacrificed a lot for the country.

ODM Deputy Leader Simba Arati told the delegates that Raila left them in the broad-based government and that they will remain there until 2027 as they negotiate with other parties in efforts to build a strong coalition to run the country. 

Arati wondered why ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and leaders allied to him failed to turn up for the Special Delegates Convention which they have been asking for since the demise of Raila and that it was wrong for them to chicken out. 

“They asked for a National Delegates Convention, we have agreed to their demands, we expected them to come, they are still welcome since we are not expelling anyone but they should swallow their pride and humble themselves,” said Arati. 

The Kisii Governor said that they will begin carrying out countrywide tours to listen to their supporters as they strengthen their party and that they will maintain the party unity at all costs in honour of Raila who is the father of the second liberation of the country. 

ODM Deputy Leader Abdulswamad Nassir said that history was being made within the party born through a struggle in changing the constitution which believes in giving power to the people and that it was regrettable that in pursuing power for the people they have been labelled sellouts which was not true.

The Mombasa Governor said that the accusations they are facing were there even during the tenure of Raila as their Leader pointing out that engaging with other like-minded parties was not a sign of weakness or betraying Kenyans neither was it a strategy to surrender.

“ODM has been the party that has always believed in dialogue, this is a movement that has withstood all the pressures over the years, I pledge my unwavering support to Oburu just like I did to Raila who had a great vision for the country,” said Abdulswamad.

ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said the Party lost their leader Raila five months ago and that they are putting their house in order preparing for the journey ahead and that the challenges they are facing were expected.

The Homa Bay Governor said that Raila believed in inclusion and diversity and unity of purpose, and clarity of purpose and that he taught them to be courageous, resilient and to respect one another and always consider the views of the ordinary members.

“We are calling on our brothers who are not here today to reconsider their move and come back home since, our party has always accommodated divergent opinions for the last 20 years which is the reason we have remained strong,” said Wanga.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed said Oburu was serving his seventh term in Parliament and has got the necessary experience to lead the Party to the next level warning those who might want to undermine his leadership.

Junet said that a party is like a membership club where you have to play by the rules since there are clear structures and that once party organs make decisions the members have to abide by them since they cannot have a lawless party.

“I would like to caution some members of the parties that we are engaging with in negotiations that they should not threaten ODM, they should know the party has the potential of fielding a presidential candidate in the coming election,” said Junet.

Deputy Secretary-General Catherine Omanyo said that the party would institute internal disciplinary measures against the Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.

EALA MP Winnie Odinga called for reconciliation, urging the party to open space for young people.