‘Leave if you’re uncomfortable!’ Oburu tells off Sifuna-led ODM faction

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has told dissenting members of the party to exit if they’re unhappy with its push to negotiate with President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the next General Election.

Speaking on Saturday in Siaya during a rally by the Linda Ground faction of the party, Oburu dismissed internal resistance to ODM’s new political direction, saying the party would not expel anyone but would not be held hostage by rebels either.

“What we want is the unity of our party; we’re not expelling anybody from the party, but anybody who feels that he is uncomfortable with us can leave if he likes,” he said.

“We’re going to do our own thing, please, if you’re not part of us do your own thing. We want to tell you to leave us alone.”

His remarks appeared aimed at perceived rebels within the party associated with the Linda Mwananchi wing, led by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo, who have come out strongly to criticise the party’s engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Oburu defended ODM’s decision to open negotiations ahead of the 2027 polls, saying the party must position itself for power rather than permanent opposition politics.

He dismissed claims that the party was rushing into talks, saying it had only expressed an intention to begin negotiations focused on policies, development programmes and the sharing of positions.

“What we’re discussing is how to strengthen our party, so that our party remains the leading party in this country called Kenya. What we’re doing here is to explain to our people that we’re entering into a negotiation in preparation for next year’s election,” said the ODM party chief.

“And we have only expressed intention to start negotiations, I don’t know why some people are saying that we’re in a hurry, we’re in a hurry to go where? We’re not in a hurry because everybody is now preparing for next year’s election, and ODM cannot be left behind.”

The Siaya Senator also announced that the party had formally resolved to exit the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, declaring the alliance effectively defunct.

“There is an organization called Azimio, where we were, and that Azimio died the day ODM left it. We left Azimio a long time ago, only that we had not formalized it. But now we have passed a resolution to formalize our exit from Azimio and it is going to be dead as a dodo,” stated Oburu.

He said the party would now chart its own path, including talks that could lead to power-sharing arrangements.

“There is no political party which is formed just to be in the opposition,” Oburu added. “We have been in the opposition for a long time… this time round, we’re going to make sure that we are in power.”

ODM has recently been linked to possible cooperation with UDA to support President Ruto’s re-election bid, a move that has deepened divisions within the party and triggered open dissent from sections of its leadership.

The Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi faction of the party on Saturday took its campaigns to Kakamega where they vowed to remain unbowed and undeterred despite political resistance and security concerns.

The leaders said they would traverse the country to champion the rights and interests of ordinary Kenyans, insisting they would not be intimidated or silenced.