ODM Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has moved to clarify his recent remarks referring to President William Ruto as a “benevolent dictator,” saying his statement was taken out of context and sensationalized by the media.
Speaking on Saturday, Dr. Oginga said his comments, made during the presidential assent to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill 2026 at State House, Nairobi, were purely metaphorical and rooted in political science.
He explained that the term “benevolent dictator” was used to describe the courage and firmness required to implement bold economic reforms, not to endorse authoritarianism.
“My remarks were a political science metaphor, not a literal endorsement of dictatorship,” Dr. Oginga said.
“I was referring to the kind of decisive leadership that drives transformation, as seen in countries like Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew. Such leadership combines firmness with a commitment to the public good.”
He accused some media outlets of deliberately misrepresenting his statement to create controversy, saying the distortion risked misleading the public about his and ODM’s democratic values.
“The media sensationalized my words and ignored the context,” he said.
“ODM remains firmly committed to democratic governance, constitutionalism, and respect for human rights. We do not, and will never, support the subversion of freedoms or the silencing of dissent.”
Dr. Oginga clarified that his remarks were meant to highlight the balance between strong leadership and accountability in driving Kenya’s economic transformation.
He reiterated that effective governance requires both vision and discipline, but always within the framework of democracy and the rule of law.
The Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill 2026, which was assented to by President Ruto earlier this week, establishes a national investment vehicle aimed at managing surplus revenues and stabilizing the economy against external shocks.
