Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has resurfaced after two weeks away from the public eye.
Oburu was last seen publicly on April 20 during the ODM Youth League Convention held at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi.
His absence from several recent party activities had triggered speculation among supporters and political observers, with some online users questioning his whereabouts.
However, in a video posted on Friday, May 8, Oburu Odinga confirmed that he is in good health.
The Siaya Lawmaker said he was in Kisumu spending time with friends while playing golf.
“Thank you for your concerns about my whereabouts. I am here in Kisumu, vibrant, up and about, playing golf, and I want to wish all of you a very happy weekend,” Oburu said.
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“It was just a bit of, not just rest, but also giving directions to our party here and there because our party was not absent…it is present fully, and it is doing its activities as normal.”
The ODM leader said the party does not revolve around one individual, insisting its structures remain functional even in his absence.
“Because we’re a structured party, we don’t depend on one person…we depend on the whole structure, and as long as it is functioning and things are working normally then I’m happy,” he said.
“Only if things are going wrong, then I come in very fast to negotiate and correct and move on. So I’m okay…I’m very okay…even this morning I was playing golf.”Oburu went on to share videos and images of him playing golf.
This comes after the party earlier moved to dispel growing speculation over the whereabouts and well-being of party leader Oburu.
ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale, on Friday, clarified that the party leader is in stable condition and remains actively engaged in party affairs.
“Today we’ve seen we have been invited to news by some of the local dailies questioning where our party leader is,” he said.
“I want to assure you that the party leader is very okay… he is fine. When people start questioning about the whereabouts of somebody, that tells you how important that person is. We take pride in that.”
Etale assured that Dr Oburu Odinga will be back in the public spotlight this weekend.
“We are happy that our party leader continues to attract news; he is becoming one source of news that everyone wants to look at,” he said. “I want to assure you that he is very okay. And tomorrow you will be seeing him somewhere in the alma mater of his late father speaking and roaring.”
Concerns were heightened after Dr. Oburu failed to attend the party’s three-day retreat in Mombasa, which focused on internal cohesion and renewed calls for unity amid ongoing wrangles within the party.
The ODM retreat, held on 4 May 2026, brought together party leaders, Members of Parliament, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other stakeholders to deliberate on the party’s direction, unity, and organizational strategy ahead of future political activities.
The ODM party leader issued a message to delegates stating that he was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.
“First, allow me to sincerely apologize for my absence from this special occasion. I had fully planned to attend this retreat, but due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, I have been unable to do so,” he stated.
Photo of ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga and President William Ruto. PHOTO/ODM
Annah Nanjala Wekesa is a journalist at The Kenya Times, with a passion for crafting news-worthy stories that leave a lasting impact. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media from Kisii University. She has honed her skills in the art of storytelling and journalism. Her passion lies in the art of storytelling that resonates with audiences, driving a commitment to delivering news-worthy stories through the lens of integrity and precision. She can be reached at [email protected]
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