Orengo: Decision to install Oburu as ODM leader was made at State House
By Mabonga Makhanu, April 25, 2026Siaya Governor James Orengo has come out to state that the decision to have Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga serve as the acting party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) immediately after the late Raila Odinga died was made in State House.
While speaking during an interview on the Herman Manyora podcast aired on Friday, April 24, 2026, the outspoken former senator claimed that even before the body of the late Raila Odinga could arrive in the country, the president had already convened a meeting with the two deputy party leaders of ODM to plan Oburu’s ODM party leadership takeover.
Orengo further questioned the speed of the developments, saying it was not right for Raila to be replaced even before his body had landed in the country, at a time when the nation was still in mourning.
He expressed his disappointment over how, while the country remained in a sombre mood awaiting the arrival of the late leader’s body, the ODM Central Management Committee had already moved to announce Raila’s replacement. Orengo termed the move a betrayal of the late leader.
“I think that you know the choice of the new acting party leader was Ruto’s decision, and we know as a matter of fact that the day before that happened, President Ruto had a meeting in State House with the two deputy party leaders, the governor of Mombasa, the governor of Kisii.”
ODM @20 celebrations
Orengo has continued to question a number of things that took place after Raila’s demise.
He faulted the ODM party for carrying out ODM’s 20th anniversary on the coast when the country was still mourning the late leader and without the presence of Ida Odinga, who, according to him, the celebrations could not have been complete without the widely labelled ‘min piny’ being present
According to Orengo, Ida, who was recently appointed to be Kenya’s representative at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has been close to their late party leader and has seen ODM become what it is today.
Raila’s replacement
Saying that it could have been more significant if Ida had been present to attend the anniversary of the party that her husband led for the 2 decades it was in existence
“And how can you celebrate ODM at 20 without Ida Odinga, who has been on his side over many years, who, even by tradition and cultural customs, is still mourning the husband? Yeah, in the homes, yeah, she wasn’t like Winnie Mandela, you know, even whether the marriage was on or not; yes, she was still a significant player in Nelson Mandela’s social life.”