We don’t regret being in broad-based government; Oburu Odinga

Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has said he does not regret joining President William Ruto’s broad-based government despite opposition leaders calling them out for what they term betrayal.

Speaking during a funeral ceremony in Luo-Nyanza on Friday, May 16, 2025, Oburu noted that the same people who had marginalised them in the UDA government were calling on them to ship out.

“When we told them, including Gachagua, that Raila was the right leader to lead this country and give shares to everybody, they refused and supported Ruto. But now, when we are also talking to the same Ruto, they are telling us to come and join them (in the opposition),” Oburu stated.

“What is the assurance that they will give Raila votes in 2027? If they plan to vote for Raila as president, let them wait for us to finish working for our people, and then we can negotiate with them in 2027.”

“As for now, we are saying sorry. We are continuing, and we are in the broad-based government, and we don’t regret being there.”

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang also indicated that the broad-based government was not about the 2027 politics but for the realisation of development between now and then.

“When we met with Ruto, the conversation was not about 2027 politics. We know the development projects that we seek from Ruto, and that is the focus of our conversation with the president,” Kajwang stated.

Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Atandi also discouraged the region from joining the opposition in the ‘Ruto Must Go’ chants, saying that the statement should be left for the disgruntled leaders whose seats ODM now occupies.

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“I beseech you to desist from the Ruto Must Go chants; leave it to the people on the other side who are disgruntled that Treasury CS John Mbadi and I have taken their seats,” Atandi remarked.

Following the formalisation of the broad-based government, ODM benefited after their members were elected to hold several committee leadership roles both at the Senate and the National Assembly.

Oburu, who now chairs the Senate standing committee on energy, replaced former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ally and Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga.

Oburu has taken up his new role jubilantly after the acrimonious fallout between President William Ruto and his former deputy, and most recently, he accompanied Ruto during a state visit to China.

Atandi equally replaced Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro at the helm of the highly influential budget and appropriations committee in the National Assembly.

Tensions have been simmering over the Raila-Ruto pact, with a section of ODM leaders scoffing at the arrangement, noting that the party will have to field a presidential candidate in 2027.