The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Oburu Odinga, who is Raila’s elder brother, has refused to withdraw from the Siaya senatorial race.
The former prime minister has been persuading his elder brother to shelve his senatorial ambitions and focus on popularizing Azimio la Umoja presidential flag bearer ahead of his titanic battle with Deputy President William Ruto.
However, in a report by the Daily Nation on Thursday, March 24, the EALA legislator appears to have set his eyes on the prize.
Oburu, has already met the ODM nomination application and is ready to battle it out with architect Julius Okinda and Tony Yogo in party primaries scheduled next month.
While Oburu is under pressure to step aside over fears that the party would rig his competitors out in the forthcoming nominations, the EALA legislator argues that the push to have him bow out is well orchestrated by his opponents who have sensed defeat.
“They should be prepared for a grueling battle ahead of next month’s party primaries,’’ the 78-year-old politician said.
While exuding confidence that he will beat them hands down to win the Suaya senatorial seat, Oburu assured his competitors that he will not leave him out in the government that would be formed after the August 9 elections.
“As the elder brother to Raila, I will have easy access to State House when he succeeds Uhuru Kenyatta. I will be able to ensure that Siaya people are not left out in the distribution of national resources.
Oburu who has received the backing of his in-law Ida Odinga told his competitors not to take his relationship with his younger brother as a tool to fight him.
“As a member of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family, we have no problem with Oburu since he has managed to steer the family since the death of his father in 1994,
“He is a forthright person and I know he will always seek your opinion in order for you to make the right decision,” she said during an event at Oginga’s Bondo home.
