‘I’m not a politician’: Raila Junior declares, reveals Oburu has called family meeting amid ODM tension
In media reports, Raila Odinga Junior has confirmed that his uncle, Dr. Oburu Odinga, has convened a family meeting set for February 1 amid internal tensions tied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following the death of his father and long-term party leader Raila Odinga.
In a tweet posted on Friday, January 23, Junior said he is “not a politician” and urged not to be dragged into ongoing political debates, adding that he respects everyone and would prefer the meeting happen sooner.
“I’m not a politician I love everyone and respect everyone my uncle has agreed to a family meeting on the 1st I would like it sooner. I don’t know what is happening musiniingishe kwa hizo siasa,” he said.
The announcement comes after Winnie Odinga and Raila Junior drew large crowds at a rally in Kibera where calls for party renewal and a National Delegates Conference (NDC) were interpreted by some as questioning the pace or direction of leadership within ODM.
Dr. Oburu Oginga, who is the current party leader of ODM, has publicly dismissed claims of plans to expel members and emphasised party unity as they prepare for future political engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
When Winnie Odinga held a rally in Kibra two weeks ago those waiting to hang ODM and send it down, the ODM grave diggers were all busy trying to convince themselves that here was Raila Odinga’s daughter who was against the ODM leadership after her father passed away and they were hoping Winnie forms her own branch of ODM and invite Raila Junior to join her and that will the beginning of the dismantling of ODM as a national party that has shaped political leadership and governance in our country for the last 20 years.
At their rally in Kibra both Winnie Odinga and Raila Junior were very clear they want ODM to move forward as a strong united national party that their father helped to build. It is very clear that these young and very patriotic and politically active Kenyans want what is best for ODM and for their country. Nothing will change that.
In the meantime, President William Ruto has nominated Ida Odinga as the Kenyan ambassador to UNEP which is great news for the and for the country.
The first time I heard about Ida Odinga was in 1982 and I was a young student at Nairobi University. I know how hard it is to put me and young in the same sentence, but that was 43 years ago.
Ida Odinga graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 when she was 24 years old. That is pretty remarkable because she went to the university as a kid, and that is what Kenyans strive to do all the time.
After graduation, Ida Odinga was a teacher for 20 years and was doing her work at Kenya High School when Raila was arrested following the August 1, 1982, coup attempt. Two years later, Ida Odinga was expelled from Kenya High School, and her residence in the school was taken from her and life went on.
There is no doubt that Ida will dedicate her life and effort at UNEP to get Kenya at the centre of the current climate control efforts from the international agencies to come to our country and do really helpful things in that real issue for Kenya and for Africa, and thisis a great appointment to get things done for our country at UNEP.
The great news for Ida Odinga and all of us is the UNEP headquarters is in Nairobi and she has to go there and make things work for UNEP and our country.
And for God’s sake, Africa is where the Equator is, and Kenya is at the heart of it. I know that because when I was working at Maseno Teachers Training College I used to walk past the sign “This is the Equator”, right in Maseno Town. It was nice, and I knew I was in the middle of heat in the continent. Why can’t Africa use that to advance development?
We are where there is the most heat from the sky, which is what is needed to produce solar energy, and yet countries covered in snow all year have more solar energy than anywhere in Africa. Ida Odinga, as the Kenya UNEP representative, could do a lot to help improve that situation for Kenya and for African countries across our continent.
Ida Odinga as Kenya’s UNEP representative help Kenya get working on solar energy capacity, where very little is being done on the ground now. Kenya needs to work with China specifically to get on the map for solar energy infrastructure and production in our country and the whole continent.
There is a lot of talk about battles to deal with climate change in our country, and yes, we are planting all those trees in all our land. In fact, me and my neigbours had a big fight some years back because I planted eucalyptus trees all over my land and fenced it then they said the eucalyptus trees eat all the water and their crops near my farm could not grow. I did not know what to do.
Then one time my entire eucalyptus trees went up in smoke because of fire which we suspected was started by the neigbours but we all compromised and everything is good now. I have added a lot of mangoes, oranges, and other fruit plants in the farm, so we are all happy.
In terms of solar energy, Kenya is terribly behind, and we are going to ask our new UNEP representative to find ways of UNEP to work with non-profit organizations in Kenya to build solar energy across the country.
For those crying because ODM is refusing to die and even looks to be getting bigger, one thing is clear for them now.
Simply put, those trying to use the Odinga family to fight ODM are wasting their time because ODM and the Raila Odinga family are way smarter than that. Try something else would be my advice to them. But what else? That is another question for them to answer. Good Luck.
And here is Kalonzo Musyoka almost running out of funerals to attend to say anything trying his hardest to be the protector of Raila Odinga family. None of them need his help but he has nowhere to go now and their last hope of a dead ODM is going nowhere. Nothing else.
Kalonzo: No one should bully Winnie Odinga
Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has defended young leaders, warning against what he terms as crude attempts to bully and intimidate them, with a pointed defence of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s youngest daughter, Winnie Odinga.
Speaking in Ngaaie, Mwingi North, during a ceremony to honour the life of the late Dorcas Mutindi Matiki on Friday, January 23, 2026, the former Vice President said Kenya must reject a political culture that seeks to silence emerging voices, especially young leaders who speak their truth.
“I must commend the great work our young leaders are doing. No one should bully Winnie Odinga. She embodies the courage and values we fight for. When young leaders speak their truth, we must consider them an inspiration, not a threat,” Kalonzo said.
He stressed that young leaders should be viewed as an inspiration rather than a threat, adding that intimidation and silencing of such voices must be condemned by all Kenyans, regardless of political affiliation.
Kalonzo’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing political tensions and debates around youth participation in leadership and public discourse. He argued that democracy thrives when young leaders are allowed to express themselves freely without fear of harassment or political bullying.
”The crude attempt to intimidate and silence them must be called by all Kenyans regardless of political affiliation,” Musyoka added.
The reality on the ground is that “the crude attempt” by the likes of Kalonzo who have nothing to offer Kenyans is that they will not use the Raila Odinga family to give them any hope in 2027 by killing ODM. It is just not happening. Move on. Please.
