A fresh jostling for influence in ODM is emerging as senior leaders move to assert themselves in the party during the prolonged absence of party leader Dr Oburu Oginga from the public eye.
Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Kisii Governor Simba Arati have increasingly taken centre stage in party activities, each building a distinct political profile as ODM navigates the vacuum left by the death of party leader Raila Odinga.
The latest push for Mr Oparanya to play a bigger role came over the weekend when legislators Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero) and Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), as well as government spokesman Charles Owino, urged him to balance his ministerial duties with party responsibilities and assist Dr Oginga in running ODM.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga at Lake Naivasha Resort during a broad-based government retreat on August 10, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“We want you to have two offices, one in ODM where Dr Oburu works and another in your ministry. We want you to take some time and help Dr Oginga work. We want you to dedicate some time so that he is not overwhelmed with work. If he is overwhelmed, we can easily lose him,” Mr Wanjala said.
He spoke at Mr Oparanya’s home during a visit by the Kawuor clan, the clan of the late Mr Odinga. Raila Junior, the late opposition leader’s son and Kibra MP aspirant and Jaoko Oburu, Dr Oginga’s son and Bondo MP aspirant, also attended the function.
Mr Wanjala said Mr Oparanya, who is a former ODM deputy party leader, was best placed to work closely with Dr Oginga and help steer the party through the current transition.
“Please be very close to Oburu to help our leader, whom we still need despite his advanced age. You have the experience, you have been deputy party leader for a long time and people are safer with you if you are near Oburu,” he said.
Mr Wanjala also called on Mr Oparanya to help strengthen ties between the Luo and Luhya communities as the two blocs position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections and the longer-term 2032 succession contest.
Mr Owino backed the proposal, describing Mr Oparanya as the senior-most politician in the region and saying his more than 25 years of close association with Mr Odinga placed him in a strong position to assist Dr Oginga.
“You have been our deputy party leader for a long time and you have ceded the position because you are a minister, so don’t forget you still have a position in that place. Support our party patron because our leader has grown beyond being a party leader. Support him since you don’t know what can happen tomorrow,” Mr Owino said.
“You must be very close to Dr Oginga so that you do most of his work. He is aging, so do more of his work. You have held our hand and we shall hold your hand because there is nobody who is senior above you in this region,” he added.
Mr Owino said Nyanza leaders would be willing to support a leader from Western in recognition of the backing the region had given Mr Odinga over the years.
“I know as Nyanza people we are ready to cede any position in the party and nothing stops us from supporting anybody from Western because you supported Raila for many years,” he said.
Mr Shinali similarly said Mr Oparanya was best placed to unite leaders from Western and Nyanza and should be involved more directly in running ODM affairs.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga (fourth right) dances youths during the party's Youth Convention at Jamhuri showgrounds in Nairobi on April 20, 2026.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
“Oparanya is the senior-most leader from this region and he is the one who will unite all of us from Western and Nyanza. Oparanya is the one who is holding us and holding ODM in Western. We have seen Nyanza people are with us and ready to support Oparanya as one of our own,” Mr Shinali said.
The renewed push for Mr Oparanya comes as he builds his own political profile, with his name being floated among possible running mates for President William Ruto in 2027.
But the former Kakamega governor is not the only leader positioning himself in the post-Raila ODM landscape.
Governor Wanga has emerged as one of the most visible faces of the party, particularly in Nyanza, where she has stepped up her mobilisation activities.
Last Friday, she led thousands of ODM supporters at Uhuru Park in Nairobi for a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of Mr Odinga. The event evoked memories of the large political rallies that defined Mr Odinga’s career.
Two weeks earlier, Ms Wanga undertook a three-day tour of Kajiado, Narok South and Narok North where she pushed for ODM to strengthen its support among the Maa community.
Her increased visibility comes against the backdrop of the expected departure of Siaya Governor James Orengo from ODM.
Mr Orengo is aligned with the Linda Mwananchi faction and is on the path to forming his own political party, further weakening the group of senior Nyanza leaders who have traditionally dominated ODM affairs.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, another senior Nyanza politician, has also scaled down his participation in ODM activities further enhancing Ms Wanga’s visibility in Luo Nyanza.
Prof Nyong’o temporarily acted as ODM party leader when Mr Odinga pursued the African Union Commission chairmanship last year.
Mr Arati, meanwhile, has also taken an increasingly prominent role in ODM activities particularly in Gusii where there is a growing push for the community to reciprocate the political support it gave Mr Odinga over the years.
The first-term governor has also been vocal in pushing for ODM to enter a political arrangement that guarantees the party a significant share of government positions if it joins the next administration.
ODM Party Deputy party leader and Kisii County Governor Simba Arati.
Photo credit: Boniface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“There are no other stories because in the next government we have to get half of all positions. The way I’m looking at things in the unfolding political arrangement, ODM will get even more than half. We are very serious,” Mr Arati said on September 8 during a meeting with Maa leaders at Orange House.
According to the Dr Oburu Oginga secretariat, the ODM leader is recuperating at home and resting on the advice of his doctors.
“Dr Oginga is at home and visits to him are limited. It is only the President and close family members who are allowed to see him. Leaders are not allowed to access him,” said Cliff Mboya, the secretariat’s communication director.
“He is planning and monitoring things, including Baba’s (Raila Odinga’s) anniversary, from behind the scenes and he is in very good health. He is also well aware of the activities going on, including the Uhuru Park candle-lighting last week and the event happening on Wednesday,” added Mr Mboya.
He was referring to Wednesday’s event, when President Ruto is expected at Kang’o ka Jaramogi to unveil the mausoleum of the late Raila Odinga. The event will also be led by the military who have been constructing the mausoleum.
“We also want to assure Kenyans that Dr Oginga is aware of and consulting on the emerging political developments and is keen on stabilising the ODM party with a focus on the 2027 General Election,” he added.
