BY AUSTINE OGOLLA, THE POLITICAL BAROMETER: For decades, Senator Oburu Oginga has been known as the quiet elder of Luo Nyanza politics; a man more comfortable in the shadows than under the glare of the political theatre.
Reserved, soft-spoken, and rarely controversial, the Siaya county seasoned lawmaker built a career marked more by loyalty and longevity than by noise or flamboyance.
But in the months following the tragic death of his younger brother, ODM party leader Raila Odinga, Dr Oburu has begun to surprise many.
Once described as the “silent power behind Raila,” he is now stepping forward, breaking his silence and proving that even the quietest men can command attention when history demands it.
The last time Dr Oburu found himself at the center of a political storm was in 2013, during the hotly contested ODM nominations for the Siaya gubernatorial seat.
He faced off with the current Deputy Governor Dr William Oduol in a bitter primary that split the party and ultimately forced the ODM leadership to hand the ticket to Cornel Rasanga, who became Siaya’s first governor.
After that bruising episode, Oburu retreated from the limelight. He maintained a low political profile, focusing on legislative work and diplomacy while avoiding controversy.
Few expected him to re-emerge in national leadership, let alone as the acting boss of the ODM, Kenya’s largest opposition party.
So, when news broke that the ODM National Executive Council had appointed him as acting party leader following Raila’s death, reactions were immediate and divided.
Some viewed the decision as a sentimental gesture, a way to honor the Odinga family legacy. Others dismissed him as too old or too reserved to steer ODM through its most fragile transition.
Yet, the elder statesman has confounded expectations. In just slightly over a week, Dr Oburu has become more visible, outspoken, and politically active than he has been in years.
He has coordinated party meetings, hosted delegates, and engaged not only key regional leaders but also national figures, both within ODM and across other political formations, signaling a growing ability to negotiate across political lines.
His calm demeanor remains intact, but his message has sharpened: defending ODM’s unity, warning against infiltration, and vowing to protect the party’s legacy from disintegration.
A Transitional or Transformational Leader?
Observers are divided: is Dr Oburu a caretaker meant simply to preserve ODM’s heritage until a new leader emerges, or a transformational figure capable of redefining the party’s future?
Those close to him insist that Dr Oburu understands the weight of his role.
His public statements have consistently focused on strengthening ODM’s grassroots, defending its ideology, and ensuring it remains the true voice of the opposition.
This message of continuity and discipline is winning him quiet admiration, especially among the party’s older loyalists who see him as a stabilizing force rather than a revolutionary one.
The Legacy Factor
Still, the Odinga name remains both a blessing and a burden. It grants Oburu instant legitimacy but also invites scrutiny from those calling for generational change within ODM.
Yet in Luo Nyanza, many see his leadership as poetic justice, the elder brother carrying the torch his sibling bore for decades.
His leadership, they argue, is not about personal ambition but about preservation and keeping the party intact as new heirs emerge.
Dr Oburu Oginga may not possess Raila’s charisma or fiery oratory, but what he lacks in flair, he makes up for with patience, historical depth, and quiet authority.
As ODM recalibrates for life after Raila, the quiet man from Siaya is proving that leadership isn’t always about noise. Sometimes, it’s about steadiness. And in this stormy transition, Oburu seems determined to keep the ODM ship afloat, even as the waves of succession politics begin to rise.
