Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has indicated that he qualifies to lead the Luo community following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
While acknowledging that no one can fit into Odinga's political shoes, Mr Mbadi said that he understands his former party leader’s political path but intends to chart his own way as he steers the community going forward.
“I know where Raila was taking us to, the paths he was following. However, I won’t put on his shoes, rather I’ll buy one that fits me and lead the Luo community the way I know, as we enter Canaan,” Mr Mbadi said during an empowerment program in Kisumu on Friday.
“Raila Odinga carried the light and led our people for over 30 years. He planned to take us to Canaan but unfortunately, he didn't reach it. However, we must enter Canaan,” he added.
Mr Mbadi said anyone who habours ambitions of stepping into Odinga’s shoe must be ready to withstand the political trials the former ODM leader underwent.
“Some people are saying that we should fit into Raila’s shoes, but in reality, no one can’t fit into his shoes. If you want to wear it, you must be detained for several years, tortured and your votes must be stolen on several occasions,” he said.
Likening Odinga to the Biblical Moses who guided his people but never entered the promised land, Mr Mbadi said the Luo community must enter the promised land under his leadership.
“Raila Odinga was like Moses who was shown Canaan but didn’t have the chance to enter. However, we must enter Canaan,” he said.
Mr Mbadi’s remarks comes less than a year after Mama Ida Odinga publicly endorsed him as suitable candidate to take over from Mr Odinga.
Mama Ida Odinga, the widow of former ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
She made the remarks during a public function in Nyandiwa, Suba South constituency, in 2024 shortly after Mr Odinga announced his bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
“When I left home for Nyandiwa, Baba told me to send his greetings. He said you should remain steadfast following the new political developments, as he has already assembled a competent team that can take charge if he goes to Addis Ababa,” Ida said back then.
“For long, Baba has been training Mbadi, and he doesn’t need any more training. You fit the bill, Mbadi Nyang’ (Crocodile). That is, it. Mbadi is where Raila’s heart is,” she further said.
Several leaders have similarly shown interest of inheriting Mr Odinga’s Luo political bloc. Among them is ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
Younger leaders, including Odinga’s daughter Winnie and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, are also positioning themselves for future influence.
Winnie Odinga speaks during the ODM Youth League Convention at Swahilipot in Mombasa on November 14, 2025.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
At the same time, Mr Mbadi has urged the ODM party to focus on regaining political power, pointing out that the party’s mission cannot be reduced to protests or street action.
“There is no political party that is formed to be in the streets. There is no political party formed to demonstrate throughout. Political parties are not NGOs. Political parties are not civil society groups,” he said.
“If we cannot produce a president for Kenya in 2027, we must produce a president of Kenya in 2032. That must be the irreducible minimum for ODM and for our community,” he said.
“Political parties are formed to form a government. We must strategize. We must learn to be in government, to form government. There are some who are telling us that we should not work with President William Ruto, that we should instead work with Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka, and yet in their lineup, we are nowhere,” Mr Mbadi said.
