Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga has dismissed swirling speculation about his health, emerging on the golf course in Kisumu with a video and photos showing him in good spirits.
The 82-year-old ODM leader posted the message “Up and grateful!” while playing golf, thanking Kenyans for their concern. “I am here in Kisumu, up and about, playing golf, and I want to wish all of you a very happy weekend,” he said.
The rumours intensified after Oburu missed several key ODM events, including the party’s strategic retreat in Mombasa where his speech had to be read by proxy. He was last seen publicly at the ODM Youth League Convention on April 20. Subsequent absences from high-profile gatherings, including the opening of the Raila Odinga Hospital and Labour Day events, triggered online speculation, including unverified claims of an airlift to India for treatment.
Party officials moved to calm the situation. ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale described the senator as “very okay,” while National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed said he had spoken to Oburu, confirming he was fully recovered. Insiders attributed the break to doctor-advised rest following a demanding schedule.
This is not the first time health concerns have circulated around the veteran politician. Late last year, he took a brief sabbatical in Dubai after an intense period that included the loss of his brother, Raila Odinga.
At 82, and now steering ODM through delicate coalition talks and preparations for the 2027 elections, Oburu’s temporary absence had raised legitimate questions about the party’s cohesion and succession. His public return on the fairway offers reassurance, though sustained visibility will be important in Kenya’s rumour-prone political landscape.
For now, the senator appears rested and ready to resume his duties, with ODM meetings expected on his calendar in the coming days.
