Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to launch process of appointing a substitute party leader, to help Dr. Oburu Odinga.
In a post shared on his social media handles on Friday, May 8, 2026, Robert Alai said the move was necessary, noting that the acting party leader would step in whenever Oburu Oginga is unavailable to carry out the party’s activities.
According to the Kileleshwa MCA, the demanding activities within Orange Democratic Movement were too taxing for Oburu Oginga and could negatively affect his health.
“ODM must urgently start the process of looking for a stand-in Party Leader to replace Dr Oburu whenever he’d not be able to personally lead party activities,” Alai wrote on his socials.
He argued that making Oburu Oginga travel by helicopter to attend party functions, considering his age, was taking a toll on his well-being.
“The top ODM leadership will kill Dr. Oburu by demanding that he fly in choppers all the time, affecting his well-being, and even not live his age,” Alai said.
He added that the party must establish a clear succession plan by grooming a more energetic leader, warning that failure to do so could push some members to leave, ultimately weakening and potentially leading to the collapse of ODM.
“New party leader must be groomed now or we fold the party and find new vehicle,” he stated.
The remarks by Robert Alai come in the wake of the absence of Oburu Oginga from a high-level three-day retreat organised by the Orange Democratic Movement at the coast.
The ODM retreat, held on May 4, 2026, brought together party leaders, Members of Parliament, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the party’s direction, internal unity, and organisational strategy ahead of future political engagements.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati, while speaking to the media during the second day of the ODM retreat, explained that Oburu Oginga, who had been noticeably absent for a second consecutive day, was held up elsewhere and therefore could not attend the event.
In his absence, Arati stated that Oburu had instead sent a speech which was read during the meeting, insisting that the party leader is okay and will be joining soon.
“Our party leader could not make it to this function; he did send his speech, which has been read. You have it. He is okay; he is alright. It is just that he got committed to another function, but you will be seeing him soon.”
