Gakuya: Oburu’s appointment as ODM acting leader is to cement Raila-Ruto deal
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has claimed that the appointment of Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as the acting leader of ODM is a strategic move to solidify a behind-the-scenes political pact between President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga.
In an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Gakuya said the Odinga family had already shifted allegiance to Ruto’s camp before Raila’s death, and the party leadership is now working to manage succession politics and maintain party unity ahead of the 2027 general election.
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“The appointment of Oburu is to cement the broad-based deal between President Ruto and the late Raila Odinga. Today, as we speak, the Odinga family is totally at the side of Ruto, and that is not going to change,” he stated.
“President Ruto is hinging his re-election hopes on ODM. He appears more concerned about ODM’s unity than the internal divisions within UDA.”
The Siaya senator was appointed acting ODM leader after Raila’s death.
This comes amid a glaring rift in the ODM party over working with Ruto, as a section of its members have already said that the faction will either be the government or part of the government come 2027.
On the other hand, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna maintains the party will field a candidate for the upcoming contest as per the late Raila’s public announcement.
Speaking on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Siaya County during the burial ceremony of Raila, Sifuna insisted that Raila’s last directive was that ODM will field a candidate in the 2027 General Elections.
“Mimi nataka niseme kwamba Baba alikuwa anasikiza wananchi. Nataka ku encourage wanachama wa ODM. Sasa tunyamaze tusikize wananchi wanasema nini. Baba alizungumza wazi tarehe ishirini na mbili mwezi uliopita mbele ya hawa wabunge, aliongea kwa kinywa chake mwenyewe, naomba viongozi msiingize maneno kwa mdomo ya mtu ambaye amelala,” he said.
On his part, Gakuya dismissed any claims that there was no agreement between Raila and Ruto before the former’s death, saying that internal party efforts are now focused on taming dissent and keeping ODM intact.
“There are those who distance themselves (from the deal), and to keep them in the party, since we are heading into an election in 2027, what will happen is either the spirit of the party splits and people depart, or the state of the party is closed and people stay loyal,” the legislator argued.
Already, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who is also the party’s deputy party leader, has extended an unexpected olive branch to Ruto, urging him to rejoin the ODM, the faction of which he was a founding member.
Speaking on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii, Arati stated that if the President rejoins the party, he will be considered its flag bearer in the 2027 General Election.
“The President yesterday said he is going to ensure that ODM remains the party it is. I want to urge him today, Mheshimiwa Ruto, you were a founding member of ODM. How I wish that you would come back to your former party,” Arati said.
“If you came back to ODM, then we would have you as our flag bearer. If you came back, we would fulfil the promise Baba had a vision for.”
