Omondi Oginga has spent much of his life outside the national political spotlight that surrounded his elder brother, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
But the lesser-known member of the Odinga family has had his own political journey, including serving as a local councillor, breaking ranks with Raila to support Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, and later returning to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In recent months, Omondi has also become more visible in public as he speaks on matters involving the Odinga family following Raila’s death.
His latest remarks came on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, when he criticised former President Uhuru Kenyatta for continuing to discuss the disputed 2022 presidential election.
Speaking at the Odinga family’s rural home at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Siaya County, Omondi said Uhuru should stop revisiting the election, arguing that Raila was now dead and the family wanted to be left to mourn.
“Raila is now resting, so let him give us a break. We are not happy as a family and as Raila supporters,” Omondi said.
The remarks have once again placed the spotlight on a man who has largely remained in the background of the Odinga political dynasty.
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Who is Omondi Oginga?
Omondi is one of the children of Kenya’s first Vice President and independence-era politician Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He is Raila’s younger brother and the firstborn son of the late Jaramogi’s third wife, Susan Agik Odinga.
The late Jaramogi had 4 wives: Betty Adongo, Susan Agik, Mary Juma, and Gaudencia Adeya, who together gave birth to 17 children.
Unlike Raila and Oburu, Omondi has not held a prominent national political position.
His political career developed largely at the local level in Kisumu, where older records identify him as the councilor for Milimani Ward between 2007 and 2012.
A 2012 report said he was considering a challenge for the Bondo parliamentary seat, a constituency long associated with the Odinga family.
After the 2013 election, reports indicated that Omondi had not received a government appointment despite his support for the Jubilee campaign.
The Odinga Who Supported Uhuru
Omondi’s political history is notable because he did not always support Raila’s presidential ambitions.
As the 2013 General Election approached, he broke ranks with his brother and backed the Jubilee Alliance led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.
Reports at the time described Omondi as an active supporter of the Jubilee campaign, with appearances at rallies where he publicly backed the two leaders.
His decision was significant because Raila was running against Uhuru in the presidential election.
It was one of the clearest instances of Omondi taking a political path separate from that of his better-known brother.
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Return to ODM Politics
Omondi eventually returned to Raila’s political camp.
Ahead of the 2022 General Election, he was reported to be seeking the Milimani Market Ward seat on an ODM ticket.
Omondi is said to have reconciled with Raila and Oburu after his earlier association with the Uhuru-Ruto political alliance.
His return to ODM marked a significant change from his position a decade earlier and brought him back into local politics.
Life After Raila
Raila’s death in October 2025 changed the way Omondi appeared in public.
After his brother’s death, members of the wider Odinga family became more visible as questions emerged over Raila’s legacy, the family’s unity and the future of his political movement.
Omondi was among the family members who addressed events at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, the ancestral home where Raila was later buried.
The homestead has become an important symbol of the Odinga family’s history and is also where Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s grave is located.
Addressing Reports of Family Divisions
In January 2026, Omondi spoke during commemorations marking the 32nd anniversary of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s death.
The event came amid reports of disagreements involving members of the younger generation of the Odinga family.
Omondi rejected suggestions that the family had split, saying political differences between individual family members should not be mistaken for a wider family breakdown.
He also pointed to mechanisms Jaramogi established to resolve disagreements within the family.
His Latest Clash with Uhuru
Omondi’s latest remarks have brought him back into the debate surrounding the 2022 presidential election.
Uhuru Kenyatta has recently repeated his view that Raila, rather than President William Ruto, won the election.
The Supreme Court upheld the declaration of Ruto as president after the election, bringing the legal challenge to an end.
Omondi has asked Uhuru to stop revisiting the contest.
He argued that Uhuru was president when the election took place and therefore had the authority to influence events at the time.
“He was in power, he had all the authority, and he didn’t use it well. So, there’s no need for him now to respond about the last elections,” Omondi said.
He described the matter as something from the past and said it was not useful for Uhuru to keep discussing it.
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