New ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has spoken publicly for the first time since returning from Dubai, reaffirming the party's commitment to collaborating with President William Ruto's government. He appeared alongside Ruto at the wedding of the son of NIS Director-General Noordin Haji in Msalani, Garissa. His remarks follow Raila Odinga's death and ODM's victories in the November 27 by-elections.
Oburu Oginga, the 82-year-old new leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), made his first public appearance on November 29, 2025, at the wedding of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Y. Haji, son of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji. The event took place in Msalani town, Ijara Constituency, Garissa County, and was an Islamic Nikkah ceremony, with all guests in white attire symbolizing purity and peace.
President William Ruto attended the ceremony after completing a development tour in Garissa County, where he launched the 376-unit Masalani Affordable Housing Project and inaugurated Yusuf Haji Girls' Secondary School, donating a school bus and laying the foundation for Phase II of the school's development. Other dignitaries included Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam.
In his speech, Oburu stated, 'When Raila left us, he left us in the broad-based government, and we will continue with that.' He added, 'We will work with the President until the end. The end of the term is 2027, but from how things are going, we will plan accordingly because we are together.' These remarks suggest ODM may support Ruto's government beyond 2027, though he did not rule out fielding a candidate in the 2027 elections.
Oburu also congratulated ODM's wins in the November 27 by-elections, saying, 'I would also like to appreciate people from UDA and ODM who have been working, and we trounced our opponents who were saying there was no broad-based government.' ODM secured three parliamentary seats: Harrison Garama Kombe won Magarini with 17,909 votes; Boyd Ongondo Were won Kasipul with 16,819 votes against Phillip Aroko's 8,476; and Moses Okoth Omondi won Ugunja with 9,447 votes.
Oburu's appearance ended speculation about his health following his Dubai trip last week, which echoed rumors before Raila Odinga's death.