Uhuru Kenyatta only promised us presidency; Oburu Oginga

Siaya Senator and ODM leader Oburu Oginga has recalled the 2018 Handshake deal with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming Uhuru gave ODM no ministerial or Permanent Secretary positions. 

Speaking during the Broad-Based Government Parliamentary Group meeting in Naivasha on Monday, August 10, Oburu said the only commitment Uhuru made to ODM was to give them the presidency.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta did not give ODM even a single minister, even a permanent secretary. The only thing President Uhuru promised us was to give us the presidency,” Oburu stated.

His remarks come amid ODM’s current broad-based arrangement with President William Ruto’s administration, under which several senior party leaders have been appointed to key government positions.

Among those serving in Cabinet from ODM party are; former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who is the CS for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, former National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi, who heads the National Treasury and Economic Planning docket, Opiyo Wandayi, the CS for Energy and Petroleum; and Wycliffe Oparanya, who serves as CS for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.

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Oburu used the comparison to highlight differences between the Uhuru-Raila political understanding after the 2018 Handshake and the current Broad-Based Government arrangement between ODM and President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The Handshake, signed in March 2018 between Uhuru Kenyatta and then-ODM leader, the late Raila Odinga, ended months of political tension following the disputed 2017 presidential election. It ushered in a period of cooperation between the two former rivals, including joint policy initiatives and political consultations.

In contrast, the current ODM-UDA partnership has seen ODM leaders formally integrated into government through Cabinet and other state appointments, marking a more structured power-sharing arrangement.

Oburu’s remarks come as ODM continues to position itself as a major player in Kenya’s national political landscape, with the party expected to make strategic decisions on its political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.

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