Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is attempting to project unity and continuity amid rising speculation over who will inherit the political authority long wielded by the late Raila Odinga.
Senior party figures have warned against premature power plays within the Luo community, framing the issue as one of stability rather than succession.
The call came as ODM delegates gathered at Odinga’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, where the late opposition leader was laid to rest. Party chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga set the tone, declaring that there was “no vacuum” in leadership.
She maintained that Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, had already stepped into the party leadership role and was the natural figure to guide the Luo community through the transition.
“The leadership of Luo Nyanza has no vacuum because once Dr Oburu has taken over the mantle of the party leadership, he is the same person who will guide the community going forward,” Wanga said. “We must not allow division or opportunism to undo what Raila built over decades.”
Her message was echoed by Ruaraka MP T.J. Kajwang’, who issued a pointed warning to younger lawmakers eager to position themselves as Raila’s political heirs. Without naming names, Kajwang’ appeared to reference Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has in recent weeks been vocal about the need for generational change. “Our father Raila has left us in good hands,” Kajwang’ said. “We shall continue to speak in one voice, as we have always done.”
Migori MP Fatuma Mohamed cautioned that rivalry could erode the party’s cohesion, urging young leaders to rally behind Dr Oburu and avoid undermining the movement’s internal order. “ODM remained strong because the late Raila Odinga kept us united. The moment we start unnecessary supremacy battles, we risk polarising the party,” she said.
Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu emphasised the symbolic weight of the moment, noting that “the world is watching” how the Luo community navigates the post-Raila transition. She described the former prime minister as a unifying force whose political legacy must not be diluted by factionalism.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ added that the community was not “orphaned” by Raila’s passing. “We still have a father full of wisdom in Dr Oburu,” he said, reinforcing the emerging narrative of continuity.
For ODM, the leadership’s show of solidarity is intended to shut down speculation, preserve the party’s internal balance, and prevent the kind of power vacuum that could destabilise both the movement and the wider Luo political bloc.
