Just days after announcing he would defend his Siaya Senate seat, ODM leader Oburu Oginga has thrown Kenya’s political landscape into a spin by declaring his ambition to run for the presidency in 2027.

Speaking on a vernacular media outlet, the veteran legislator noted that he is ready to take on all contenders for the country’s top job, but only if he secures the ODM party’s official backing.

If the party decides to sit out the presidential race entirely, Dr Oburu intends to pivot back to Siaya and retain his Senate seat, a calculated safety net that has already sent local hopefuls scrambling back to the drawing board.

Beyond his presidential ambitions, the veteran legislator took a calculated, softer stance on the heated national debate regarding whether President William Ruto should serve one or two terms.

Dr Oburu, however, warned that taking a rigid, hardline position on President Ruto’s tenure right now could severely derail delicate, ongoing negotiations between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over a potential coalition or power-sharing agreement.

“I find it difficult to say two-term or one-term because we are not in any agreement yet. If I do that, then our negotiations will lose objectivity,” Dr Oburu explained.

His cautious approach has gained immediate backing from key ODM stalwarts, including National Assembly Minority Leader Millie Odhiambo and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga (who also serves as the party’s Deputy Organising Secretary).

Both legislators took to social media to echo Dr. Oburu’s sentiments, urging members to move away from divisive slogans.

“I said singing two-term or one-term doesn’t help wananchi (the public). Our focus is to strengthen and build our party,” Ruth Odinga emphasized.