Raila Odinga junior during a past event/COURTESY
Raila Odinga Junior has moved to publicly distance himself from the growing political tensions within the Odinga family and the ODM, insisting that he is not a politician and should not be drawn into party wrangles following the death of his father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
In a statement shared on social media, Raila Junior said he had reached out to his uncle, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, to request a family meeting to address emerging concerns.
He, however, emphasised that he does not wish to be dragged into political battles.
“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,” Raila Junior said in the post.
His remarks come amid reports of deepening rifts within ODM and the wider Odinga family, sparked by disagreements over the party’s political direction and recent high-level decisions linked to the family.
The situation has been further complicated by divergent views among senior ODM figures on cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration and the party’s long-term strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Senator Oburu, who is widely regarded as both a senior party figure and a key family patriarch, has convened meetings aimed at calming tensions and restoring unity within ODM and the Odinga household.
The family has increasingly found itself at the centre of national political debate following Raila Odinga’s death, with expectations mounting over who will shape the party’s future.
Raila Junior’s statement is also seen as a response to speculation that he could be drawn into active politics or be positioned as part of ODM’s leadership succession. However, he has consistently maintained that his role is primarily within the family and cultural context, rather than in partisan politics.
In October 2025, Raila Junior was traditionally installed as the head of the Odinga family following his father’s burial, in line with Luo cultural customs.
At the time, Senator Oburu clarified that the installation was a cultural and family matter, not a political endorsement or elevation within ODM leadership structures.
The latest developments have revived public attention on alleged family feuds, particularly regarding differing political stances taken by Oburu and other ODM leaders. Some reports suggest that internal disagreements over alliances and appointments have spilled over into family discussions, prompting calls for urgent dialogue.