The ODM Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga recently announced he will seek re-election as Siaya Senator.
Rather than keep party supporters on endless charade about the presidency, Senator Oburu chose to provide leadership by first making his stance known in relation to the forthcoming presidential horse-trading.
Dr. Oburu has lived long enough to know what it takes to contest the presidency and chose to not waste everybody’s time.
Dr. Oburu’s practical politics is a welcome departure from his younger brother Raila Odinga’s high octane theoretical politics which mostly achieved no victory.
The era when the ODM Party participated in politics for the sake of it is over. Pragmatism will always win over idealogical posturing.
Exiting the presidential race early enough sends the signal to the principal ODM partner — the UDA Party — that nothing should be cast in stone and that ODM comes to the table of negotiations with clean hands.
The ODM Party has a rare opportunity to consolidate horizontally in government. If the UDA Party will retain the presidency and Deputy Presidency, ODM cabinet slots should move to 10+ with PSs stretching to 20+.
The party should further target critical parastatal and diplomatic posts, as well as the leadership of legislature and the judicial organs.
In the end, however, what is important is what the party brought to its bases in terms of roads, ports, piers, fish landing sites, hospitals, water, electricity, coffee, sugarcane, improved tourism (coast) and the deepening of devolution.
The party strategy on job creation, healthcare provision, education, sports development and immigration must be pursued relentlessly.
Supporting President William Samoei Ruto while entrenching to capture power in future, is ODM Party’s long term goal.
Dr. Oburu is reading our politics correctly. We support him 100%.
Dikembe Disembe is a Political Researcher and Writer
