ODM delegates confirm Oburu Oginga as party leader at Jamhuri conference

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates have finalised the party’s top leadership structure, handing Oburu Oginga full authority as party leader.

The decision was made during the Special Delegates Conference (SDC) held on Friday, March 27, at Jamhuri Grounds, where representatives from across the country convened to decide on leadership roles and align on the party’s future direction.

The forum provided a platform for members to express their positions on key appointments through voting and consensus, with the process overseen by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, who formally declared the outcome after delegates indicated their preference.

“Now that we have a proposer and a seconder. Let me ask the question. As many of that opinion say ‘Aye’, and as many as of the contrary opinion say ‘Nay’, the Ayes have it. Now Senator Oburu Oginga is the party leader of ODM,” posed Junet.

Oburu had been acting as party leader for the past five months, during which he handled party affairs and worked to keep internal structures stable ahead of the formal confirmation.

During the meeting, the delegates also approved the appointment of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga as the official party National Chairperson.

She will be deputised by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo alongside his Turkana South counterpart John Ariko Namoit, whose ratifications were also announced during the event.

In the same session, delegates endorsed Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir and Kisii Governor Simba Arati as deputy party leaders, adding them to the party’s senior leadership team.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi's bid to become the third deputy party leader failed to meet procedural requirements after he did not secure a proposer and a seconder during the conference, and he missed out on the position.