Oburu Odinga Tells James Orengo to Exit ODM Following Series of Criticisms: "Vomit from Outside"

• Siaya senator Oburu Odinga called out dissenting ODM leaders, urging them to leave the party if they oppose the Raila Odinga-William Ruto cooperation deal
• Treasury CS John Mbadi dismissed allegations that Raila is using Siaya governor James Orengo to voice hidden frustrations of working with President Ruto
• Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to ODM, assuring the party that Kenya Kwanza is focused on collaboration, not competition

TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

Political tensions simmered during a church service in Migori, with Siaya senator Oburu Odinga taking to the pulpit to issue a stern warning to dissenters within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Oburu, the elder brother of ODM leader Raila Odinga, openly criticised party members who have voiced discontent over the ongoing cooperation between Raila and President William Ruto.

In a veiled jab at Siaya governor James Orengo, who has been a sharp critic of the working arrangement with Ruto, Oburu urged those opposed to the broad-based government arrangement to either fall in line or quit the party altogether.

"Those who are annoyed, who think this broad-based government is not right, they are actually vomiting on us from within," Oburu said. "Why don't they get out and vomit from without? Because we want our party, ODM, to have a nice smell, and we want to move on with our people."

Oburu’s remarks came during the church service attended by Ruto on Sunday, May 4, in Suna East, Migori county.

He said the collaboration between Raila and Ruto is already bearing fruit for the Luo community, and no one should stand in its way.

He also implored dissenting voices within ODM to closely observe Raila's subtle signals regarding the handshake, suggesting that his endorsement is clear.

"I come from Siaya. And I'm pained when my own governor stands up and says things that suggest he's angry, I don’t even know at who. He claims to speak the truth, nothing but the truth. But what truth is that?" Oburu asked.

Is Raila using Orengo to voice frustrations of working with Ruto?

Joining Oburu in defending the handshake were Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.

Mbadi dismissed speculation that Raila is using Orengo as a mouthpiece to express hidden dissatisfaction with the Kenya Kwanza-ODM cooperation.

"If you want to know the body language of Raila, read Oburu’s. If you want to know the language of Raila, check what Junet Mohamed is saying. If you want to understand Raila's stance, look at what I’m saying," Mbadi said.

Ruto, who shared the platform with the ODM-affiliated leaders, echoed the call for unity and mutual respect in the ongoing cooperation between his Kenya Kwanza alliance and the ODM party.

"The way we agreed with Raila, we must work together," Ruto said. "And I want to give you my assurance, as the party leader of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and leader of Kenya Kwanza, that the commitment we made to ODM to work together is not going to turn into a competition."

However, not all ODM leaders are aligned with this view. A rift continues to widen within the party, with figures like Orengo, Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna reportedly pulling in a different direction.

Is Raila being shortchanged in post-election deals?

In a previous story by TUKO.co.ke, Orengo sharply criticised Raila’s recurring political alliances with rivals following disputed elections.

Speaking in Siaya on April 30, Orengo argued that Raila has consistently been denied rightful election victories, only to later strike deals with the very opponents he should be challenging.

He cited previous instances in 2007 and 2018, and the most recent pact between Raila and Ruto, as examples of what he termed “nonsensical deals and transactions.”

Orengo lamented that such arrangements undermine Kenya’s democratic values by legitimising electoral fraud. In his view, these power-sharing deals hinder meaningful political change and embolden those manipulating electoral processes.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke