From left: Abdulswamad Nassir, Gladys Wanga, Simba Arati, Ruth Odinga, Opiyo Wandayi, Junet Mohamed, Elijah Oburu and ODM leader Oburu Oginga (background).
The newly-installed ODM party leader Oburu Oginga is quietly crafting a team of allies to assist him run the outfit amid rising internal rebellion.
Dr Oginga has identified a team of loyalists, drawn from among the top party officials, the Cabinet and family members as part of his strategy to fend off political onslaught and to manage succession with the party and Luo Nyanza.
Some of the ODM members who have publicly challenged the leadership of Dr Oginga include Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late party leader Raila Odinga, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
They are already pushing for the leadership to convene the party’s National Delegates Convention for members to directly elect top officials, including the party leader. The team is citing Article 6.2 of the party’s constitution.
Siaya Senator and ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga.
In his team, Dr Oginga has Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, and governors Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Simba Arati (Kisii). Mr Arati and Mr Nassir are the party’s co-deputy party leaders, while Ms Wanga is the national chairperson.
Also in his team is National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, his sister and Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga as well as his son Elijah Oburu, who has since taken up the official aide role.
Mr Nassir disclosed to the Nation that he is the one who proposed Dr Oginga’s name during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on October 16, a day after the death of Raila. The appointment was then confirmed by the party’s National Governing Council on October 13.
“Some of the people going out there to raise issues are actually members of the National Governing Council that confirmed the appointments,” he said. “We are not going to allow them to rock the party from within. We know they are being used to break our party.”
Dr Oginga is seen as a transitional party leader before a new political kingpin is identified. His ambitions are also seen as limited, especially given his age.
Dr Oginga has likened the emergence of leadership to the natural growth of mushrooms.
“Even Raila, there was no meeting for the community to elect him their leader, he just emerged on his own,” he said.
He has asserted the need to give youth an opportunity to lead, effectively shutting succession doors for himself, Siaya Governor James Orengo and his Kisumu counterpart Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o.
In the past Dr Oginga has mentioned some of individuals he feels are best placed to take over the mantle of Luo leadership—Mr Wandayi, Ms Wanga and Treasury CS John Mbadi.
“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 those that fit me and lead the Luo community the way I know, as we enter Canaan,” Mr Mbadi said in Kisumu on Friday.
During ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Winnie appeared to question the competence of Dr Oginga, to lead the party.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaks during the World Teachers Day Celebrations at Kenya Science Campus in Nairobi on October 5, 2025.
“The broad-based relationship is complicated. Those managing it now, are they capable?” she asked, and called for an NDC to give members the power to decide who should steer the relationship.
Similarly, in his address during the party’s jamboree in Mombasa, Mr Owino declared himself ready to take over the party’s leadership from Dr Oginga.
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