Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga on Saturday made his first major public appearance after weeks of intense speculation about his health and whereabouts, stepping out alongside President William Ruto in Garissa during the Nikkah ceremony of NIS Director Noordin Haji’s son, Mohammed Noordin.
The 82-year-old ODM party elder appeared calm, composed and in high spirits — a reassuring sight for supporters who had grown anxious after his prolonged absence from the public stage.
Oburu had travelled to Dubai shortly after the funeral of his younger brother, Raila Odinga, taking what family members described as a much-needed break to relax and recover from the emotionally draining weeks that followed the ODM leader’s death and the hectic ODM@20 celebrations in Mombasa.
His son, Jaoko Oburu, confirmed that the family insisted he takes time off to unwind, dismissing swirling rumours that the veteran politician had fallen seriously ill.
“Dad only needed to rest. The weeks had been extremely tough,” Jaoko said, assuring supporters that Oburu remained in stable health.
In Garissa’s Masalani town, Oburu joined a powerful delegation led by President Ruto, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, among other senior figures, at the colourful Islamic wedding ceremony.
His presence at the event — engaging, smiling and greeting guests — marked his first public social outing since returning to Kenya, effectively quelling speculation that had followed his disappearance from political activities.
Oburu’s return comes at a time when the Odinga family is once again grappling with fresh grief following the death of their sister, Beryl Achieng, who passed away on October 25 after a prolonged illness. Beryl had been too unwell to attend Raila’s funeral last month.
Her passing came barely days after the family laid to rest Raila, who died on October 15 in India after collapsing during a morning walk. He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in southern India but was pronounced dead after medics failed to revive him following a cardiac arrest.
For many ODM supporters, Oburu’s Garissa appearance signaled not just a return to public life but a moment of stability in a season marked by loss and political uncertainty within the larger Odinga family.
With the senator now back in the country and visibly in good health, attention is expected to shift to his next political engagements as ODM reorganizes itself in the wake of its founder’s passing.
Oburu’s calm re-entry into the spotlight — in the company of the Head of State — is likely to ignite fresh political conversation across the Nyanza region and beyond.
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