Raila Odinga Junior addresses members of Bunge La Mwananchi at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi on May 17, 2026.
Raila Odinga Junior has demanded respect for his family in the wake of remarks made by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
Speaking at Jacaranda Grounds on Sunday as he interacted with locals, Raila Jnr said that he held a meeting with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Oburu Oginga, who is his uncle, and urged him to crack the whip on leaders disrespecting the late Prime Minister.
“There are a lot of negative comments coming out against the family. What we are just asking the leaders is to be patient, and to have some respect when dealing with our family, with how they address the family and talk to the family,” he said.
He explained that he had been keeping a low profile and avoiding making political remarks since his father's death, but he is now back in the public eye.
Regarding the leadership of the ODM party, Raila Jnr said that the family respects Dr Oginga, but demanded a place at the table for Raila’s family.
“We respect Dr Oburu, he is my father, and I respect him, and we also say that as the Raila family, we want more participation within the ODM. I feel very offended as Baba’s son about the way people are talking outside there. Stop making comments about Baba’s family, please. Whether you are CS, whether you are PS or anything. This has to end,” he said.
He maintained that while Dr Oginga and other ODM leaders claimed to have information about how Raila wanted the party to be governed, he had more details about the last meetings he had accompanied his father to.
“On Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground factions, all I want to say is that I was there during the final meetings that Baba had. I won’t comment more on that, but I will leave it to my sister, Winnie Odinga, who is the politician,” he said.
Disrespectful
According to him, the growing negativity directed at the family by certain leaders is disrespectful to a man who greatly shaped the country’s politics and groomed some of the leaders who are now disparaging his name.
Elsewhere, Nairobi County ODM branch chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa weighed in on the exchange of words between Mr Mbadi and East African Legislative Assembly MP Winnie Odinga, saying the two should put aside their differences and work together to strengthen the party.
“The two are leaders, and we respect them; their issues can be resolved amicably. We have observed what they have said, and there is nothing wrong with that. A few issues are expected to emerge whenever a father leaves the family, and that is what we have been experiencing as a party, but we are slowly moving forward. We believe in the leadership of Dr Oginga.”
At the same time, a section of ODM leaders has continued to push for electoral zoning and more seats in a possible coalition with UDA, including the Nairobi governor’s seat.
National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi when he appeared before the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee at Bunge Tower in Nairobi on April 2, 2026.
ODM leaders in Nairobi County, led by Mr Aladwa, yesterday called for zoning ahead of the 2027 General Election, even as preparations for negotiations with President William Ruto's ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party continue.
Speaking at a church service, Mr Aladwa said that ODM should be the only one to field candidates in areas where it has dominated politics for years. However, during the planned negotiations, he said that ODM should be allowed to field a candidate for the Nairobi governorship.
“If Makadara is an ODM area, UDA should not have a candidate there. Likewise, ODM will not have candidates in Nairobi constituencies where UDA is strong. There is no shortcut. Zoning must be there, and that is what we authorised ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga to pursue. We will support the president for re-election, and in that line, we want ODM to be allowed to field a candidate for the Nairobi governor seat,” Mr Aladwa said.
While his remarks are expected to attract division, Mr Aladwa maintained that ODM is a strong party and that its demands should be prioritised.
He recently announced that he is considering vying for the Nairobi seat, which is held by Governor Johnson Sakaja of UDA, who has expressed interest in defending the seat in 2027.
Mr Aladwa said that the announcement by UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar that the party will field candidates across the country could cause division.
“The UDA secretary-general is not the party leader. President Ruto is the only person who can give directions to the party, and he is the one who is going to have these talks with our party leader; those are different levels, let him talk as the secretary-general,” he said.
Remain strong
Mr Aladwa said that they will not accept for all the top seats to be taken by UDA and its affiliated parties, adding that they had instructed Dr Oginga to remain strong during negotiations.
The ODM leaders criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his remarks over the country’s hosting of the Africa Forward Summit.
“Such conduct sends the wrong message to the international community and risks portraying Kenya as politically hostile and unstable at a time when we are working hard to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with global partners. I want to remind Mr Gachagua that patriotism must come before political competition. The presidency must be respected, and visiting heads of state deserve dignity and courtesy while in our country,” he said.
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