ODM party leader Oburu Oginga.
At his new political nerve centre along Riverside Drive in Nairobi, ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga is steadily carving out a role that mirrors the authority once wielded by his late younger brother, Raila Odinga.
From diplomats to senior government officials, the steady stream of high-profile delegations trooping into Pawaa Centre underscores a carefully choreographed consolidation of power—one that signals both continuity and transition within one of Kenya’s most formidable political outfits.
In recent weeks, the Siaya Senator has turned the place into a hub of intense political and diplomatic engagement, beginning with meetings that project ODM’s relevance on the global stage.
Among the earliest visitors was British diplomat Dr Ed Barnett, who paid a courtesy call to brief the ODM leader on the United Kingdom’s strategic partnership with Kenya. The discussions touched on trade, governance, and democratic stability, with Dr Oginga using the platform to reaffirm ODM’s commitment to constitutionalism and its controversial decision to work with President William Ruto’s administration.
British High Commission Chargé d’Affaires Dr Ed Barnett.
Shortly after, Pawaa Centre hosted Russian Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko, with talks focusing on expanding bilateral ties in trade, education, and cultural exchange—an engagement that highlighted ODM’s continued outreach beyond traditional Western allies.
Russian Ambassador to Kenya Vsevolod Tkachenko.
The diplomatic momentum continued with a high-level delegation from South Africa led by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong. Beyond conveying condolences following Raila Odinga’s death, the South African team engaged Dr Oginga on international relations benchmarking, digital security, and trade cooperation—further cementing the office’s emerging stature as a centre of both political and diplomatic gravity.
And it's not just foreign envoys beating a path to Riverside.
Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries have also been making appearances, signaling Dr Oginga’s growing influence within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi was among the first to hold talks with the ODM leader, with discussions centering on governance and the anticipated ODM-UDA coalition framework ahead of the 2027 elections.
Principal Secretaries, including Dr Raymond Omollo and Treasury’s Dr Chris Kiptoo, have also held consultative meetings at the facility.
The government officials have provided updates on national development programmes and aligning their ministries’ priorities with ODM’s 10-point agenda.
“It was a pleasure to host a delegation of Permanent Secretaries from various ministries for a courtesy call at the Pawaa Center,” Dr Oginga said after one such engagement.
“We engaged in a productive dialogue centered on pressing national issues and the strategic implementation of our agenda.”
Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
The engagements have not been limited to policy briefings. Interior PS Raymond Omollo met Dr Oginga to deliberate on regional security frameworks and the streamlining of ID registration—issues critical to ODM’s grassroots mobilisation strategy.
Other PSs who have held talks with Dr Oginga include Dr Ouma Oluga (Health), Judy Pareno (Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs), Stephen Isaboke (Broadcasting and Telecommunications), Carren Agengo (Children Services) and Dr Caroline Karugu (East African Community). Others are; Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak (Science, Research and Innovation), Cyrell Odede (Public Investment), Aden Millah (Maritime Affairs), Michael Lenasalon (Devolution), Dr Bonface Makokha (Economic Planning), and Regina Ombam (Trade).
Firmly in control
Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga during an interview with NTV and Daily Nation at Serena Hotel Nairobi on October 30, 2025.
These back-to-back meetings paint the picture of a leader firmly in control, quietly but decisively steering the party through a delicate post-Raila transition.
The scene at Riverside bears a striking resemblance to the late Raila Odinga’s Capitol Hill office, which for years served as the epicentre of opposition politics and a meeting point for diplomats, technocrats, and political actors.
Then, as now, key decisions were shaped not just in formal government settings but within the confines of a political office that wielded influence far beyond its official mandate.
Observers say Dr Oginga is deliberately replicating that model—creating a parallel centre of power where strategy, negotiation, and consensus-building can take place away from the glare and constraints of formal state structures.
Pawaa Centre
The Pawaa Centre, officially launched on March 9, 2026, has since evolved into more than just an office. It is a statement of intent.
Having previously operated from the more modest Bunge Towers and Orange House, Dr Oginga now presides over a space designed to match his elevated role—both within ODM and in the broader political landscape shaped by the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Insiders say the move was strategic: to provide him with a secure and independent base from which to manage party affairs while navigating the complex dynamics of the broad-based government arrangement.
That arrangement—brokered before Raila’s death—remains one of his most delicate assignments.
As the de facto bridge between ODM and President Ruto’s administration, Dr Oginga is tasked with maintaining party unity while ensuring the coalition delivers tangible political dividends.
Already, groundwork is being laid for a pre-election coalition agreement between ODM and UDA, with an eight-member joint technical committee expected to spearhead the process. The discussions at Riverside have increasingly revolved around this roadmap.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who has also visited the office, said the talks focused on deepening cooperation between ODM and UDA in managing the capital.
“My conversation with the ODM party leader picked up from where we left off with Raila Odinga,” Sakaja told Nation. “Through cooperation and collaboration, we can retain elective seats and ultimately the presidency.”
Allies argue that Dr Oginga’s deep experience in politics and governance positions him uniquely to guide ODM through a period of uncertainty while safeguarding its interests within the broad-based framework.
Indeed, for a man who long operated in the shadow of his more politically visible brother, Dr Oginga’s emergence as the party’s central figure marks a significant shift.
Where Raila was the charismatic mobiliser, Dr Oginga is proving to be the quiet strategist—methodical, deliberate, and increasingly assertive.
And at Riverside Drive, that transformation is on full display.
From diplomatic engagements to high-level government consultations, the Pawaa Center is fast becoming the new heartbeat of ODM politics—much like Capitol Hill once was.
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