ODM Keeps 2027 Options Open as Oburu Oginga Declines to Commit to Ruto Alliance
Speaking at the home of the late businessman and politician Cyrus Jirongo in Lugari, the Siaya Senator said ODM would only settle its 2027 strategy after extensive consultations with its grassroots supporters, signaling that the party does not consider its current cooperation with the government as an automatic endorsement of President Ruto’s re-election bid.
Oburu stressed that ODM’s strength lies in collective decision-making rather than individual ambitions, warning against premature political deals that bypass party members. He said the party leadership would be guided by the views of its supporters across the country before taking any definitive position.
“I am nothing without you. You are the ones who make me party leader,” Oburu told ODM supporters. “I cannot claim to know everything. That is why we must consult our people. Once we agree on party policy, everyone must speak the same language.”
The ODM leader noted that the party is currently focused on internal consolidation, including strengthening its structures, expanding membership, and crafting a clear policy agenda that will guide it through to the next election. He revealed that ODM is developing a 10-point agenda aimed at repositioning the party as a cohesive and disciplined political force.
According to Oburu, ODM’s participation in the broad-based government does not mean it has surrendered its independence. He said the party would decide closer to 2027 whether to contest the election on its own or enter into a negotiated political arrangement with other parties, including those currently in government.
“When 2027 comes, we will either go into the election as ODM on our own or work with others we are together with in government,” he said. “Any support will only come through a negotiated arrangement that fully involves ODM.”
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna echoed Oburu’s remarks, drawing a firm line on the party’s core principles of accountability and justice. He warned that cooperation with the government would not silence ODM’s oversight role or compromise its values.
Sifuna emphasized that development without justice and freedom was meaningless, adding that young leaders within ODM remain ready to speak out against fear, intimidation, and abuse of power.
The statements highlight ODM’s cautious approach in the post-Raila Odinga era, as the party seeks to redefine its identity, maintain relevance, and preserve strategic flexibility ahead of a highly uncertain 2027 political contest.
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