Oburu stops reading speech at UDA-ODM Naivasha retreat, says his eyes are failing him
ODM leader Oburu Odinga stopped reading his speech midway during the Broad-Based Government meeting in Naivasha on Monday, August 10, 2026, saying his eyes were failing him. Oburu was addressing President William Ruto and other leaders attending the three-day retreat involving the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). He had started […]
During a broad-based government meeting in Naivasha on August 10, 2026, ODM leader Oburu Odinga abruptly halted his speech, claiming his failing eyesight prevented him from continuing. Addressing President William Ruto and other attendees from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Oburu had begun his address by emphasizing his commitment to political leadership and national responsibility.
He remarked, "Your Excellency, I stand before you today not to play the transient game of politics, but to answer the enduring call of statesmanship." However, midway through his remarks, Oburu announced, "Yes, Your Excellency, my eyes are failing me. So I will leave this speech." He then offered to deliver the written speech to the leaders present.
Despite his departure, Oburu continued speaking, reiterating the significance of the gathering and the unity among leaders from both political parties. "But, Your Excellency, we came here as a fraternity. We came here to gel together. We came here to fraternize. We came here to think about the future of our country," he affirmed.
This incident unfolded as Ruto and ODM leaders engaged in discussions about the future of the Broad-Based Government arrangement and preparations for the 2027 General Election. The retreat, held a year before the scheduled Kenyan election, brought together UDA and ODM leaders to explore political cooperation, mobilization strategies, zoning decisions, and potential power-sharing arrangements.
The Deputy President position remained a contentious issue, with ODM advocating for a role in the 2027 administration. Odinga had previously indicated his support for Ruto for the presidency while seeking other positions through negotiations. The ODM leader also defended his party's demand for zoning, contending that UDA should refrain from fielding candidates in areas deemed ODM strongholds.
The Naivasha retreat aimed to shed light on the evolving dynamics of the Ruto-ODM partnership as the 2027 election approached.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
