Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga addressed the Muslim community during an Iftar dinner at State House Mombasa on Friday evening.
Standing alongside President William Ruto, Oburu reflected on stepping into the enormous void left by his late brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“I don’t know whether I fit the shoes but I have made my own shoes,” Oburu stated humbly, referring to Raila’s long-standing tradition of attending such Iftar gatherings with President Ruto.
The remark drew applause and murmurs of reflection from the audience, underscoring the immense challenge Oburu faces as he leads the party following Raila’s passing in late 2025.
The evening, which coincided with Oburu’s three-day tour of the Coast and an ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mombasa, brought together Muslim faithful, newly elected MPs, and senior ODM officials.
President Ruto hosted the breaking of the fast, symbolising the ongoing broad-based government partnership between ODM and the ruling administration an arrangement Oburu has repeatedly vowed will extend beyond 2027.
In his speech, the Siaya Senator did not shy away from hard truths. He reminded the gathering of historical discrimination against Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions home to many Muslim communities dating back to the 1965 Sessional Paper No. 10, which prioritised high-potential areas over nomadic zones despite their fertility and rainfall potential.
Oburu praised President Ruto’s establishment of the infrastructure fund and urged equitable distribution to support irrigation, flood control, electricity, and water projects in the north, arguing that development is the surest path to ending insecurity.
“Mr. President, I don’t want to make a long speech because this is Iftar,” Oburu said, keeping his remarks concise out of respect for worshippers heading to the mosque or breaking fast with families.
He concluded by inviting President Ruto to address the gathering, reaffirming ODM’s commitment to collaboration.