Inside Oburu’s many wars

Read: Why Oburu ODM faction dropped ‘Linda Ground’ brand

For the last two days, Dr Oginga has held meetings with some of the officials who skipped the jamboree, while projecting a united front for the party ahead of 2027. 

Back in his Siaya County backyard, Dr Oginga, who has declared his plan to defend his Senate seat is also facing a fresh political headache after former Governor Cornel Rasanga announced he would run for the same seat in 2027 on an ODM ticket. 

Dr Oginga met ODM co-deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa Governor) as well as National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed separately after the two officials skipped the function. 

Mr Nassir skipped the Kisumu event while Mr Mohammed steered clear of both the Kisumu and Mombasa retreat, with reports of protest on how the outfit is run. Management of party resources has become a major point of conflict, the Nation has learnt. Both Dr Oginga and Mr Mohammed on Wednesday projected a united front following their meeting. 

“The ODM Party is strong, united and determined as never before to strengthen our ruling partnership as we prepare for next year’s polls,” Mr Mohammed said. “We have stalled all attempts to destroy our party, consolidated our bases and kept our movement mission ready.”

Dr Oginga shared similar remarks, saying the meeting evaluated ODM’s progress and reviewed its upcoming organisational trajectory.

“Our deliberations centred on seamlessly anchoring the party's grassroots mobilisation drives with our legislative priorities in Parliament, ensuring that our oversight and policy execution remain strictly aligned with our core manifesto,” said Dr Oginga.

Read: ODM jamboree exposes fallout within Oburu camp

In his meeting with Governor Nassir, Dr Oginga said their discussion focused on streamlining the outfit’s strategic roadmap ahead of the 2027.

“The future of the movement remains united, focused, and resilient,” he said.

Apart from Mr Nassir and Mr Mohammed, other top party officials – who have in the past raised their reservations on how the party is run – also gave the political jamboree a wide berth, giving credence to growing internal wrangles within the Dr Oginga-led faction.

ODM Vice Chairperson and Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo, National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo, Deputy Organizing Secretary and Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga, and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga were among senior members absent from the meeting.

In his Siaya backyard, Mr Rasanga has formally thrown his hat into the ring for the Siaya Senate seat, setting the stage for what could become one of the most fiercely contested ODM nomination battles ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at a gathering held at his home in Segere, Siaya County, where prayers were offered to mark the launch of his Senate bid, Mr Rasanga made it clear that he would not step aside for anyone, including incumbent Senator, Dr Oginga.

“Me, I don’t fear anybody. Let him come, tuonane omundu khumundu (we face off man to man),” declared Mr Rasanga.

For years, Mr Rasanga and Dr Oginga have walked the political corridors of Siaya as allies, two seasoned figures in a party that has long dominated the lakeside county with little internal resistance. That long-standing political arrangement now appears destined for a stern test.

“The party leader is a friend of mine and a relative. It is his right to declare that he wants to defend his seat, except that he is not honest because when he was going to contest, we had agreed that he serves that term and then leaves me to go for it,” Mr Rasanga said.

On Tuesday, the former governor confirmed what many political observers in the county had been quietly speculating about for weeks.

By declaring his intention to seek the Siaya Senate seat on an ODM ticket, he signalled his readiness for a direct contest with the incumbent.

“I am an ODM life member, and I told you that for me to be ejected from ODM, they will have to use a nyundo (hammer) to remove me from the party,” the former county boss said.

Mr Rasanga served two full terms as Siaya’s first governor, a decade during which he became one of the county’s most recognisable political figures.

When he left office, many assumed he would retreat quietly from frontline politics. Instead, he now presents himself as a leader who believes his public service journey remains unfinished.

“I started from zero and left Siaya somewhere. There are things we started that did not take off as expected, and I believe I still have something to offer,” he told journalists.

Standing between Mr Rasanga and the coveted ODM ticket is no ordinary politician.

Read: Oburu, Wanga declarations deal blow to ODM’s Presidential and DP ambitions

Dr Oginga, who won the Siaya Senate seat in 2022, is a seasoned legislator, a respected elder statesman, the current ODM party leader and, perhaps most significantly, the older brother of Raila Odinga.

His proximity to the party’s centre of influence is not lost on anyone following the race. Within ODM, endorsements and goodwill often gravitate towards those closest to the party leadership.

Mr Rasanga, however, appears unfazed.

“I have gone through ODM nominations before and won, but I told you that there are alternatives. They are independent,” he said.

So far, four other individuals have declared interest in the seat alongside Mr Rasanga. They include Oscar Omondi, who contested in the last election; Zacky Masiro, who is making his first attempt; Walter Okello, the current Chief Officer for Governance at Siaya County; and Nick Ongoro.

As the race gathers momentum, Siaya is shaping up to be the stage for an intense political contest, one that could test alliances, loyalties and the balance of power within ODM itself.

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