Amidst the noise of rebellion, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has quietly laid out the roadmap for ODM’s survival in the post-Raila era. Speaking in Bondo, Oburu revealed that the party is forming a high-level "Negotiation Team" to engage with partners in the broad-based government, signaling that ODM intends to remain in power, even if it means evolving its identity.

The revelation is a direct response to critics like Babu Owino who accuse the current leadership of selling out. Oburu’s counter-argument is pragmatic: "You cannot eat opposition." He argues that for Nyanza to develop, ODM must institutionalize its cooperation with President Ruto’s administration.

The "Negotiation Team" Mandate

The team, likely to be led by trusted loyalists like Opiyo Wandayi and James Orengo, will have a specific mandate:

• Protecting Devolution: Ensuring county funds are not slashed in the ongoing austerity measures.
• Securing Appointments: Formalizing the "shareholding" arrangement that has seen ODM members appointed to the Cabinet and parastatals.
• 2027 Coalition Building: Exploring a potential pre-election pact. Oburu hinted that ODM is "open to all options," a statement that will send shivers down the spine of the Azimio hardliners.

The "Babu" Problem

Oburu dismissed the "Young Turks" agitation as "excitement without strategy." He challenged them to bring their ideas to the National Delegates Conference (NDC). "If they have a better plan than negotiation, let them table it. But shouting on social media is not a plan," he scoffed.

A New ODM?

Oburu is steering the party from a movement of resistance to a party of governance. It is a risky pivot that could alienate the radical base, but Oburu is betting that the fruits of development—roads, water, and jobs—will eventually silence the critics.