Details of Oburu’s meeting with UK envoy
By Cy Muganda, January 27, 2026ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga has briefed the United Kingdom on developments within the party following the passing of former party leader Raila Odinga, as well as the party’s working relationship with the UDA government.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Oburu revealed that he held talks with the Charge d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Nairobi, Ed Barnett, who paid him a courtesy call.
“This afternoon I held talks with Charge d’Affaires, British High Commission in Nairobi, Dr Ed Barnett, who paid a courtesy call. I briefed the high commissioner on developments in the party since the passing of Rt Hon Raila Odinga, relations between ODM and UDA and the status of the implementation of the ten-point agenda,” Oburu stated.
Democratic processes
The ODM party leader emphasised the party’s commitment to democratic processes and constitutional change of government as the core reasons for agreeing to work with UDA.
“I emphasised the party’s belief in democratic processes and constitutional change of government, citing these as the core reasons ODM agreed to work with UDA,” he said.
Oburu told the UK envoy that the decision to work with the government was driven by a shared belief in democratic processes.
“With the UK, we share a deep belief in democratic processes. We do not want coups and other unconstitutional changes of government. That is what informed our decision to work with the government. We acted to avert chaos, I informed him,” Oburu stated.
UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership
The deputy high commissioner briefed Oburu on the Strategic Partnership between the UK and Kenya, signed in July 2025.
“The deputy high commissioner briefed me as the party leader of ODM on the Strategic Partnership between the UK and Kenya signed last July, focused on Growth, Trade and Investment, Climate and Nature, Science, Technology and Innovation, Security and Defence and Migration, among other areas,” he said.
Barnett also conveyed his country’s condolences to the Odinga family and the people of Kenya.
“Dr Barnett relayed his country’s condolences to us the Odinga family, and the people of Kenya on the passing of Hon. Raila Odinga,” Oburu concluded