Kasmuel McOure has issued a strong warning against anyone trying to inherit the late Raila Odinga’s political position within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Speaking emotionally on Saturday, October 18, 2025, McOure described Raila as both a father and a friend who had welcomed him into his home and treated him like family.

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“I’m weeping because I’ve lost a father and a friend. He opened his doors to me and treated me like a child of the home,” McOure said.

“You cannot inherit Raila Odinga’s position because it was not elective. Raila will be succeeded by someone who emerges from the people.”

McOure said ODM must remain united and under the guidance of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, who was appointed acting party leader following Raila’s death.

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He urged the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) to meet soon and formally install Oburu, saying he has the right vision and stability to steer the party forward.

“The Orange Democratic Movement will be a party for the next 20 years,” he said. “But now it has to be firmly under the leadership of Senator Oburu Odinga. They had better convene that National Delegates Convention and install him because he has the best ideals for the party.”

ODM urged to maintain unity

McOure praised Raila for holding Kenya’s communities together through decades of political struggle.

“He kept our community together, he kept minorities together,” he said, warning against emerging supremacy battles within the party. So anyone who wants to bring antics, and I’m sending this as a stern warning, anyone who’s trying to bring antics will not be tolerated.”

His remarks came two days after ODM’s National Executive Council appointed Oburu Odinga as acting party leader to guide the party through the mourning period. The party reaffirmed its unity and commitment to Raila’s ideals of justice, democracy, and equality.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has also backed Oburu’s leadership, saying he will propose during the upcoming NDC that Oburu be confirmed as ODM’s official leader.

“We believe Dr Oburu Odinga has the experience and composure to steer this party to the next level,” Wandayi said.