Delegates of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have ratified Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as the party leader during a dramatic Special National Delegates Conference (NDC) held at the ASK Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi.
The development came amid growing tension within the party, with delegates arriving at the venue early Friday morning for what had already been described as a high‑stakes political showdown.
Reports indicated that the meeting was organised by one faction of the party, even as a rival camp attempted to hold a parallel delegates conference elsewhere in the capital.
The gathering at the Jamhuri grounds went ahead despite the deep divisions that have rocked the party in recent weeks, particularly over leadership and the future political direction of ODM following the death of long‑time party leader Raila Odinga in 2025.
During the special NDC, delegates endorsed Oburu as the substantive party leader, effectively formalising his position after months of internal power struggles.
Oburu had been serving in an acting capacity since last year, when he was appointed to steer the party following the leadership vacuum created by Raila’s death.
Political analysts say the decision marks a turning point for the Orange party, which is currently facing one of the biggest internal crises in its history.
Rival factions within the party have been locked in disputes over who has the authority to call the NDC, with some leaders insisting that the meeting violated the party constitution while others defended it as the only way to stabilise the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Earlier in the day, reports showed ODM delegates already streaming into the ASK Jamhuri Grounds in large numbers, signalling the importance of the meeting and the determination by the Oburu‑led faction to push through major leadership resolutions.
The ratification now puts Oburu firmly in charge of the party’s future political strategy, including decisions on coalition arrangements and preparations for the next general election.
ODM’s National Delegates Conference remains the party’s highest decision‑making organ and has the constitutional mandate to elect or ratify national officials.
The outcome of the NDC is expected to reshape the opposition landscape in Kenya, especially as the party seeks to redefine itself after the loss of its long‑time leader and amid growing rivalry among senior party figures.
