Oburu Oginga – ‘I don’t know if I fit Raila’s shoes, but I’ve made my own’
By Valerian Khakayi, March 14, 2026The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Oburu Oginga, has said that he does not know whether he fits into the shoes of his late brother, Raila Odinga, whom he succeeded as party leader.
Oburu, while speaking during an Iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at State House, Mombasa, on Friday evening, March 13, 2026, reflected on continuing his brother’s legacy while carving his own political path.
He added that while he is unsure if he fits his brother’s shoes, he has made his own.
“I think this is a very good opportunity for me to come and stay with the Muslims immediately after losing my brother, who was the party leader of ODM,” Oburu said.
“He used to come to you for Iftar; now I have replaced him. I do not know whether I fit the shoes, but I have made my own shoes.”
Oburu’s remarks honour Raila Odinga’s legacy while also signalling his own independent leadership within the party.
Oburu’s leadership
His remarks come days after a section of ODM grassroots and parliamentary leaders sent out a stern warning against party officials deemed to be in opposition to the party’s new leadership under Oburu Oginga.
In a fiery party consultative forum at Kibra’s Kamukunji Grounds on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, MPs and grassroots leaders allied to the Orange party stated that they would not tolerate any disrespect towards the new party leader from the rebel faction.
Led by area representative Peter Orero and Felix Odiwuor, alias Jalang’o, of Lang’ata, the lawmakers dismissed the section of the party not aligned to Ruto’s reelection, stating that Raila left them inside the broad-based government.
Orero took a swipe at Oburu and the broad-based government’s critics with a strong warning that the party members will only take directions from Raila’s successor.
“This is the famous Kamukunji grounds; it is here where the politics of Raila began. It is Baba who has been leading us, and just like our Baba, Oburu is also Owadgi Gi Akinyi. As a party, our Central Committee Management (CCM) reached a decision and we affirm the party’s new directive and urge all to stick to it,” Orero said.
“We want to affirm that our leader is Oburu, and let no one negotiate anything without his consent. Baba left us in ODM and broad-based, and that is where we are and in the two terms,” Jalang’o added.