Orengo: Oburu was not elected by NDC as ODM party leader
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, March 5, 2026Siaya Governor James Orengo has dismissed the election of the county’s senator, Oburu Oginga, as the party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Orengo has said that the election of Oburu as the party leader was not conducted by the National Delegates Committee as required by the party’s constitution; hence, his election is illegal.
Speaking in an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Orengo said that in a case where the party leader has died, the party’s constitution provides that the deputy party leader will be the acting party leader, awaiting the party’s NDC to be convened, in which a party leader would be elected.
“Kustahili hilo ni jambo la wanachama kwa sababu wanachama ndio wanachagua kiongozi, na haswa kupitia NDC.
“Na unajua hakuchaguliwa na NDC; aliwekwa kwa njia ya mseto tukingoja NDC, lakini hata kwa hiyo njia ya mseto nafikiri ya kwamba haikufanywa kwa halali.
“Kwa sababu kuna utaratibu ndani ya chama ya kwamba iwapo kiongozi wa chama amekufa ama hawezi kufanya kazi za chama, deputy leaders mmoja wao anaweza kuchukua nafasi hiyo kwa muda hadi NDC ifanyike,” Orengo said.
ODM announces NDC
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has set a National Delegates Convention (NDC) in Nairobi on March 27, 2026, as the party moves to chart its political strategy ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking during a rally at Posta Grounds in Migori on Sunday, March 1, 2026, ODM leader Oburu Odinga outlined the party’s plans to engage in talks with other like-minded formations, starting with its current partners in the broad-based government, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“As a party of ODM, we are ready to go into negotiations with other formations in the country, the like-minded,” Oburu said during the rally. “I know there are a few of them, but we are starting negotiations with our current partners in the broad-based government, which is UDA. And my party has given me authority to start negotiations,” Oburu said.
The planned convention has been announced amid sustained pressure from a section of leaders within the party who had been pushing for the immediate calling of the NDC to address leadership, governance, and coalition issues.
Friction within ODM
The governor’s remarks come amidst a widening rift within the opposition party, which has split into two distinct factions: the ‘Linda Mwananchi’ group led by Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and the ‘Linda Ground’ camp led by Oburu.
The internal friction centers on the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under a broad-based government framework.
Despite the pointed criticism, Orengo remained non-committal regarding his candidacy for the party leadership at the upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).