Oburu responds after Winnie Odinga flags need for clarity on ODM-UDA pact

ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has responded to Winnie Odinga’s call for clarity on who should manage the broad-based government now that Raila, who had overseen ODM’s entry into the pact, is no longer present.

Speaking during ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, Oburu acknowledged Winnie’s concern over the management of the party’s engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

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He noted that while she had suggested that the party consider selecting another person to oversee the relationship, he would discuss such matters privately with her at home.

“My child Winnie says that since Raila was there, we should now find someone else to help continue this broad-based government. I am telling her that we will discuss these matters privately at home. I will explain these things to her at home,” Oburu said.

Oburu emphasised that as the party leader, he has taken up the mantle left by Raila Odinga and is determined to continue the late leader’s work.

He assured ODM members that he would not shy away from the responsibilities of leadership and that he has embraced the role fully, including the protection and execution of the party’s priorities and agreements.

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On the same note, Oburu vowed to uphold the vision and initiatives that Raila Odinga had championed, insisting that the party’s commitments, including its engagement with the broad-based government, would continue without fear or hesitation.

“But this position that you all have entrusted to me as ODM party leader, I will handle it just as Raila had done. I have taken up this shield, and I will not show any fear. I will continue to fulfil everything that my brother Raila wanted to see accomplished,” Oburu said.

Winnie’s take

Earlier in the celebrations, Winnie had called for the formation of a fresh National Delegates Conference (NDC) to determine who should officially manage the party’s relationship with the broad-based government.

She explained that the management of the ODM-UDA relationship had previously been handled solely by Raila Odinga due to its complexity and emphasised that it is now up to the party to decide who will oversee it in his absence.

“I want to tell party leaders that when it came to the matter of the broad-based government, the people of ODM had entrusted only one person with the management of that relationship, and that person was Raila Odinga,” Winnie said.

Winnie had also raised concerns over those taking it upon themselves to handle the relationship in his absence and emphasised that it is a matter for the party members to decide.

“That relationship is complicated, and we are now wondering about those taking it upon themselves to manage it in his absence. I do not think this is a question for me to answer; it is a question for the people of ODM to decide. That is why I am requesting a fresh National Delegates Conference to see who the party will pick to manage that relationship,” Winnie said.