ODM appoints Oburu Oginga as Acting Party Leader following Raila Odinga's death

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In the wake of Raila Odinga’s death, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has moved swiftly to ensure continuity.

On Thursday morning, the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) met and unanimously endorsed Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga as Acting Party Leader, a decision set to take effect immediately.

The NEC resolution, read in a statement issued after the meeting, said Dr Oginga will lead the party until ODM’s senior organs convene to elect a permanent leader.

Speaking at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where ODM leaders were preparing to receive Raila’s body, Mombasa Governor and Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir affirmed the NEC’s decision.

“The NEC has this morning met and unanimously endorsed the Senator of Siaya County, Dr Oburu Oginga, as the Acting Party Leader. This appointment takes effect immediately,” he declared.

Governor Nassir also announced that ODM had opened condolence books in all party offices nationwide, allowing members and the public to express their sympathies.

He added that despite the profound loss of the party’s founding leader, ODM remains united and committed to upholding the principles and vision that Raila championed during his lifetime.

Raila Odinga passed away abroad, and his death left a leadership void in ODM--a party he led for decades.

With Dr Oburu’s appointment, ODM aims to maintain stability and avoid a power vacuum during the national mourning period.

Dr Oburu is Raila’s elder brother and a longtime stalwart in the party. A seasoned politician, he currently serves as Senator for Siaya County.

This shift is not merely procedural. It is a symbolic gesture--a bid by ODM to signal continuity and reassure members and supporters that the party will remain guided by its core values of unity, democracy, and service even in the absence of its central figure.

How he navigates internal expectations and external pressures will be closely watched.

His leadership during this transitional phase could define ODM’s trajectory and influence how the party repositions itself in Kenya’s shifting political landscape.