Africa-Press – Kenya. ODM Party Leader Senator Oburu Oginga on Saturday told supporters that the party is not expelling dissenting members, but anyone who feels uncomfortable with ODM is free to leave.
Speaking at the Linda Ground rally in Siaya County, Oburu emphasised that the party’s focus remains on structured negotiations around policies, development programmes, and power-sharing arrangements.
“We are not expelling anybody from the party, but anybody who feels uncomfortable with us is free to leave,” he said. He clarified that upcoming negotiations will prioritise concrete agreements on governance and power-sharing, not merely political alliances.
“We are going to negotiate on policies, development programmes and the sharing of positions, which includes the sharing of power,” Oburu said. The ODM leader noted that the party has spent considerable time in opposition and is now determined to be part of the next government.
“There is no political party that is formed just to remain in opposition. We have been in opposition for a long time, and this time round we are going to make sure that we are in power,” he declared.
Oburu said the rally had been convened to consolidate the party’s base and chart a clear path ahead of the next General Election. “We have gathered here in Siaya as the ODM community to discuss how to strengthen our party so that it remains a leading party. We want to remain united,” he said.
He dismissed criticism that the party was rushing into early political negotiations, arguing that preparations for elections are both normal and strategic.
“I don’t know why some people are saying we are in a hurry. We are not, because people are already preparing for the next General Election. We cannot sit back,” he said, urging critics to allow the party to organise without interference.
Oburu also said the Azimio coalition had effectively ceased to exist following ODM’s exit. “There is an organisation called Azimio, and I want to tell you it died the same day ODM left it. We left it a long time ago, but we had not formalised it. It is no more,” he stated.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi supported Oburu’s remarks, noting the party’s focus remains on securing political power through lawful and structured engagement.
“Oburu is the party leader of ODM. The other camp is not in ODM, and we do not know them,” Wandayi said. He added: “Any political party strives to have power.” Wandayi also expressed support for a pre-election negotiation pact between ODM and President William Ruto.
“President William Ruto has walked with our community for a very long time. I support the pre-election negotiations pact that Oburu is going to lead and do with President William Ruto,” he said. Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi described the rally as a milestone for both the county and the party.
“We are here as an ODM party brigade. ODM is currently operating within a broad-based government arrangement and as a party, we only recognise Senator Oburu Oginga as our leader who will steer us forward.”
