Oburu: We chose Ruto because he was the ‘better devil’

Nairobi, Kenya – ODM Party Leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has defended the party's decision to collaborate with President William Ruto, arguing that it was driven by the need to maintain stability following the 2022 General Election. The party's leaders evaluated the political options at hand and determined that partnering with Ruto was a more viable choice than the alternatives, according to Oburu.

Speaking at a broad-based government meeting in Naivasha, he emphasized that despite ODM's previous opposition to Ruto, they recognized him as the 'better devil' among the choices available. "If we still viewed him as a devil, he was a better devil compared to the other devils," Oburu stated. The remarks shed light on ODM's transition from being among Ruto's staunchest political adversaries to becoming a partner in the broad-based government.

The decision to join Ruto's administration was primarily motivated by the desire to preserve Kenya's stability, as opposed to allowing political disagreements to plunge the nation into further uncertainty. Oburu urged ODM members who were uncomfortable with the party's cooperation with President Ruto to either embrace the change or depart from the party, as divisions within the Orange party continue to intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He challenged party members to be clear about their support for or opposition to the broad-based government arrangement. The internal strife within ODM, which pits those supporting the partnership with Ruto against those who oppose it, has been evident in the rift between Oburu and former ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.