Raila Junior visits Oburu as ODM party leader recovers at home

NAIROBI,Kenya Oct 27 – Kibra parliamentary aspirant Raila Odinga Junior on Tuesday visited his uncle, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Odinga, at his Nairobi home, offering a glimpse of the veteran politician as he continues recovering following his discharge from hospital. Junior shared a photograph of the two together on his social media platforms, accompanying it with the brief message, “God is good.” The visit on October 27 comes eight days after Oburu was discharged from Nairobi Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment since October 4.

The Siaya Senator, who turned 83 on October 15 while in hospital, has been recuperating at home under medical supervision, with doctors advising him to rest before resuming normal public engagements. Junior did not disclose details of Oburu’s health condition or indicate when the ODM leader would return to his full schedule of political activities.

The photograph, however, offered another public glimpse of Oburu following weeks of concern and speculation about his health and prolonged absence from the political scene. Oburu’s hospitalisation attracted heightened public attention because it coincided with preparations for events marking the first anniversary of the death of his younger brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died on October 15, 2025.

The two brothers shared a birthday date with the anniversary of Raila’s death, giving Oburu’s birthday this year a particularly poignant significance. In a message shared on his birthday, Oburu reflected on the bond he shared with his younger brother, describing their connection as one that death could not sever. “Today, October 15th, is far more than just a date on the calendar; it is a sacred intersection of life and eternity,” he wrote.

He added that he continued to carry Raila’s spirit within him, reflecting on their shared personal and political journey. Oburu also used the occasion to address speculation about his health, insisting that he was recovering and criticising those who had circulated unverified reports about his condition. “I’ve been sick like any other Kenyan can be sick, and like any other human being can be sick,” he said.

The veteran politician maintained that illness was a private matter and that his absence from public engagements should not be used to fuel rumours about his whereabouts. His discharge from hospital on October 19 marked a step forward in his recovery, although he has yet to announce when he will resume his regular public engagements. Political leaders visit Oburu Junior’s visit follows that of ODM deputy party leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who met Oburu at his Nairobi residence on October 22.

Arati’s visit was the first publicly reported meeting between the ODM leader and a senior party official after his discharge. Photographs shared by the party showed the two leaders seated together at the residence. ODM accompanied the images with the message “Chama iko Imara”, meaning the party is strong, in an apparent effort to reassure supporters about the organisation’s stability as its leader recuperates.

Arati has also represented Oburu at public events during his absence, including the memorial activities held in honour of Raila. Oburu’s recovery comes at a significant moment for ODM, which is navigating the political transition following Raila’s death while positioning itself for the 2027 General Election. The former Prime Minister had been the party’s central figure for years, shaping its political direction, electoral strategy and relationship with other political formations.

Oburu assumed the party leadership following his brother’s death, inheriting the responsibility of steering the organisation through a period of uncertainty and internal debate over its future direction. His absence from public engagements has therefore drawn attention beyond concerns about his health, with party members and supporters also watching how ODM manages its affairs during his recovery.

Junior’s visit also comes amid renewed attention on the political ambitions of members of the wider Odinga family as the country moves towards the next general election. Junior has declared interest in the Kibra parliamentary seat, a constituency closely associated with his late father’s political influence and the broader ODM support base in Nairobi.

Kibra has long been an important political battleground for ODM, with the party enjoying a strong presence in the constituency through successive election cycles. Junior’s bid places him among the emerging political figures seeking to build on the family’s political legacy, although he will have to navigate the party’s nomination process and competition from other aspirants.

The Odinga family has also witnessed differing political positions among some of its members following Raila’s death, adding another layer of interest to the question of how the family’s political influence will evolve.