The second most powerful political address in Nairobi has quietly shifted from Capitol Hill to a secluded residence on Riverside Drive, marking a significant change in the operations of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Party insiders confirm that ODM Party Leader Dr. Oburu Odinga has effectively abandoned efforts to run party affairs from the iconic Capitol Hill office, long associated with Raila Odinga’s political command.
For years, Capitol Hill served as the nerve center of Raila Odinga’s political machinery, hosting key strategy meetings and party deliberations. However, the premises are now under lock and key, with sources indicating that the Raila family has restricted access to the current ODM leadership.
Winnie Odinga, Raila’s daughter, is said to have issued firm instructions to keep the office secured and inaccessible to party officials.
Reports suggest that Raila Odinga personally purchased the entire building housing the Capitol Hill office, giving the family full ownership and control over the property. This development effectively removes the ODM Party’s claim to the premises, which had long been considered the symbolic seat of the party leader’s power.
In a further setback to Dr. Oburu’s leadership, he has also been barred from using the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) for party-related activities. The foundation’s gardens, recently renovated to accommodate up to 100 people, had frequently hosted ODM events during Raila’s tenure.
The property, originally part of a Kenya Railways holding, had been leased to the Odinga family for over four decades. Sources now allege that Raila Odinga has finalized the purchase of the land, placing it firmly under family ownership.
With Capitol Hill and JOOF no longer available for ODM operations, the party’s leadership has relocated to a new office on Riverside Drive. The property is said to have been acquired by a UK-based engineer and long-time ODM financier, signaling a new chapter for the party’s administrative base.
