Pauline Odhiambo Oginga, the step-sister to the late Raila Odinga, has announced her intention to vie for the Nyali parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.
Oginga, who has been increasingly vocal about the state of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), expressed disappointment with the party’s current leadership, accusing top officials of allowing President William Ruto to penetrate the Nyanza region without resistance.
Speaking during an interview on Saturday, April 18, 2026, Oginga said ODM leaders should be held responsible for the shifting political dynamics in Nyanza. She claimed that Ruto’s growing acceptance in the region was a direct result of complacency within the party’s top ranks.
“ODM leaders have entertained Ruto too much, allowing him to make inroads into our strongholds without their knowledge, only to realise later that he had already gained significant ground,” Oginga said.
She noted that President Ruto can now freely hold rallies and engage with residents in Nyanza without seeking permission or involving local political figures such as Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
Using a vivid analogy, Oginga compared Ruto’s gradual political entry into Nyanza to a camel that first asks to put its head inside a tent to escape the sun, only to eventually occupy the entire space.
“They opened the door, and he has entered. So in the story of the camel, the camel said, ‘Let me just put my head in a little bit.’ The sun is too hot. Then slowly, the camel started moving in. Then before you know it, the tent is down,” she remarked.
Oginga warned that ODM’s failure to contain Ruto’s influence could lead to significant political casualties in 2027, especially in the absence of Raila Odinga, who previously played a central role in determining political outcomes in the region.
“It is sad that Ruto can reach the ground in Nyanza without the ODM leaders, and even the people at the grassroots have said that with or without the support of Nyanza leaders, they want development from this government,” she observed.
According to Oginga, the 2027 elections will mark a turning point for Nyanza politics, as voters are expected to make independent decisions for the first time in decades.
She argued that the “king’s fall”, referring to Raila Odinga’s absence, coupled with Ruto’s growing presence, will reshape the region’s political landscape.
Pauline expressed that her aspiration is to advance her political career at the Coast, with a particular focus on Nyali.
As a member of the influential Oginga family, currently represented by three sitting MCAs in Siaya, Kisumu, and Nairobi counties, as well as EALA MP Winnie Odinga, she noted that her entry into elective politics would further cement the Jaramogi Oginga family’s enduring legacy in Kenya’s political arena.
