Oburu Oginga: I Will Be ODM’s Presidential Candidate If No Coalition Deal is Reached

Oburu Oginga has said he will be the Orange Democratic Movement’s presidential candidate if the party runs independently in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during his New Year address in Diani, Kwale County, the ODM leader and Siaya Senator said the party constitution is clear that the party leader automatically becomes the presidential nominee if ODM does not enter a coalition. He said the party remains strong and united despite claims that it has weakened following the death of its long-serving leader, Raila Odinga, in 2025. 

Dr Oginga dismissed suggestions that ODM has been compromised or absorbed by rival groups, saying that the party is firmly rooted at the grassroots and retains a national presence.

“This party is not on sale and will never be sold,” he said, adding that ODM’s size and reach make it a key force in Kenyan politics.

Dr Oginga also warned party members with presidential ambitions that ODM’s leadership structure does not allow for internal competition over the presidential ticket. He said those seeking to contest the presidency should do so through other political parties.

He identified 2026 as a critical year in which ODM will decide whether to contest the election on its own or join a coalition. While acknowledging ODM’s current cooperation with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, he said the arrangement does not amount to a formal coalition.

He said the party is tracking the implementation of the 10-point agenda agreed between Raila Odinga and President Ruto, while maintaining its organisational independence. Reflecting on the past year, Dr Oginga paid tribute to his late brother, describing his death as both a national loss and a personal blow. 

He said ODM had remained united through 2025 and continued to strengthen its structures following Raila Odinga’s passing. He said the party is focused on rebuilding and preparing for future political contests, with decisions taken in 2026 expected to shape its role in the 2027 election.