ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga has defended the party’s identity and warned that ODM will not be absorbed despite its participation in the broad-based government, saying the party will remain distinct as it prepares for future political contests.
Speaking during the ODM Turkana County Delegates' Meeting on Wednesday, Oburu said the party would push for its interests during ongoing political negotiations.
He said ODM was currently negotiating policies that would shape the next government, insisting that the party’s agenda must be reflected in future political agreements and manifestos.
"We have started negotiations. We are now negotiating policies because we cannot be working under the old manifesto. In the next government, where we want to come through the front door, the policies of ODM must be very clear and must be reflected in the manifesto of the next government," Oburu said.
The ODM leader said the party would also table zoning arrangements during political negotiations, arguing that Turkana should be recognised as an ODM zone.
"When we are going to negotiate now on a political platform, we are going to negotiate something called zoning, but that zoning, we are going to insist that Turkana is an ODM zone. That is an agenda we are going to put on the table very strongly," Oginga said.
His remarks came as ODM leaders sought to reassure supporters that the party’s participation in the broad-based government would not weaken its political identity.
Oginga said ODM had survived previous attempts to weaken it and would emerge stronger from the current political arrangement.
"Some of you said ODM cannot be swallowed. We are not going to allow our party to be swallowed. Our party will be distinct. We shall continue to be one as ODM, and we shall come out of this affair much stronger," he said.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, who also addressed the delegates, echoed the message, saying ODM’s values remained deeply rooted among its supporters and that the party had a long-term political vision.
"Today we're in partnership with our brothers and sisters from the other side, but we must never lose our identity. We must never lose our hope and aspiration, because we have an intention, and the intention is to eventually form an ODM government," Joho said.
Joho also urged ODM members to remain united and respect the party leadership, saying there was no shortcut to political leadership.
The leaders further highlighted development priorities for Turkana, with Joho calling for better organisation of the county’s mining sector and investment in value addition for fisheries.
The meeting was also attended by ODM Deputy Party leader Simba Arati, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development Beatrice Askul and ODM acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo.