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Oburu scoffs at critics over claims he is too old to lead ODM
02nd November, 2025 05:14 PM
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Acting Party leader Oburu Oginga has told off his critics that he is too old to lead the faction following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The ODM brigades had toured the coast region to woo votes for their candidates ahead of the upcoming November 27, 2025, by-elections.
Speaking on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in Magarini, Kilifi County, the Siaya Senator maintained that he has enough experience to take charge of ODM and that the party is not for the elderly.
“Hii chama yetu ya ODM, wengine wansema sasa Oburu miaka imeenda.Na sababu gani anachukua chama ya wazee? Angalieni viongozi wa hapa, Abdulswamad ni kijana si Kijana? Na wale wengine kama Sifuna wote ni vijana,” he said.
“Kwa hivyo ODM ni chama ya vijana n ani chama ya Gen Z kama Oburu Oginga na nahimiza vijana wajiunge na chama ya ODM.”
Oburu was named as the acting party leader on October 16, 2025, by the National Executive Council (NEC), just a day after the demise of his brother in India, and now the Central Committee has reaffirmed the same.
“This being the first meeting of the committee since the passing of the party leader, the top party organ that we endorse Hon. Dr Oburu Oginga as the new party leader and urge the party rank and file to accord him all the necessary support and cooperation to enable him guide the party through this difficult time,” Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said after the near four-hour meeting.
ODM is now seeking to use Oburu’s confirmation to rally its supporters behind it, as fears have emerged over its future without Raila.
But despite his firm stance, critics such as Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya have faulted the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for appointing Oburu as the interim party leader following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, terming the move a serious mistake.
What critics say
In an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Gakuya described Raila as a political giant who commanded numbers, but argued that the ODM leader’s death has exposed deep structural weaknesses within the party.
“Raila Odinga was a political giant who commanded numbers. Unfortunately, he didn’t leave behind a nurtured point man. Oburu Odinga did not deserve to be the interim leader; that was a serious mistake,” Gakuya said.
On his part, Former Agriculture Minister Arap Kirwa has raised alarms that Siaya senator Oburu Odinga’s takeover as acting ODM leader risks turning the party’s internal disagreements into a full-blown crisis.
He stated that political parties in Kenya often rely heavily on individual leaders rather than institutional structures, leaving them vulnerable to internal power struggles when leadership changes occur.
“The strength of ODM has always revolved around strong leadership, but if control is concentrated in the hands of one individual, the party risks losing cohesion and focus,” Kirwa said.
