“Kick out Oburu,” Luhyas tell ODM, declare war as they back Edwin Sifuna

The Luhya community has come out guns blazing, baying for the blood of embattled ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga over his sustained attacks on party secretary general Edwin Sifuna.

Led by the Luhya Council of Elders’ national chairperson, Dr Noah Wekesa, the community has poked holes into the leadership of Oburu saying he does not understand the structures of the party and should be kicked out of the party for its survival.

According to Wekesa, Oburu is selfish, and he doesn’t want young leaders who have a vision in the party.

He noted that, unlike the late Raila Odinga, who encouraged young people like Edwin Sifuna, Godfrey Osotsi, Hassna Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya among others to rise, Oburu fights them to please President William Ruto for personal gains rather than for democracy.

Speaking in Kakamega on Tuesday, April 28, after a meeting held at Shieywe Guest House with other elders drawn from other Luhya sub-tribes, Dr Noah Wekesa revealed that as Luhyas, they have an alternative, and they will not bend for Oburu so that they get to power.

He said they have advised Sifuna and Osotsi on what to do, and soon ODM will be a Luo party.

However, Dr Wekesa expressed his disappointment at how Luhya political leaders including MPs allied to ODM are being handled, with goons acting on instructions from known powerful government officials beating some of them.

“Oburu is leading the party to President William Ruto for his personal gains only. As a Luhya elder, together with other leaders, we have instructed our sons to stand for the common Mwananchi,” he said.

The leader also raised concern over UDA and ODM meetings from which Luhyas have been excluded, saying this has sidelined the interests of the Luhya community.

He called on governors from the Western region who support ODM, including Kakamega’s Fernandes Barasa, to exercise independent judgement and find other ways to protect ordinary citizens.

According to Wekesa, many Kenyans are struggling with a hard life, but the leaders they elected are often perched on top of vehicles, campaigning for President Ruto.

He revealed that Luhyas are tired of being sycophants and they will produce a presidential candidate in 2027.

Wekesa used the platform to call out Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for their silence while Luhya leaders are being mistreated.

“We regret seeing Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Mudavadi’s silence amid the mistreatment of our young leaders. They are busy campaigning for William Ruto even in parliament but fail to protect their own blood,” Wekesa blasted.

The council’s secretary, Peter Ludava, echoed the sentiments, saying they will not sit back and watch as their sons are mistreated by Oburu and other Linda Ground group allied politicians.

Ludava added that, as a community, they supported Raila Odinga wholeheartedly and should not be subjected to any mistreatment from Oburu.

Ludava called on all Western leaders to back Sifuna and Osotsi, describing them as the saviours of the community.

“We, as elders, we will not seat back and watch helplessly, we will protect our sons from greedy Linda Ground fellows who have sold ODM to William Ruto,” Peter Ludava said.

The elders statement comes three days after cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya showed disappointment with Oburu.

Oparanya criticised Oburu for being a sycophant and mean for personal gains.

Speaking on Friday in Lugari during the issuance of cheques to youth and women at an empowerment event, Oparanya said Oburu has fully destroyed ODM and has successfully made it a Luo party.

Unlike Raila, Oparanya said Oburu doesn’t understand democracy, which led him to chase away young leaders who advocated for equality.

“Raila built ODM from scratch, but Oburu has destroyed it in seconds. The old man doesn’t understand democracy, and that’s why, as Luhyas, we have united, and he will see dust in 2027 and beyond,” Oparanya said.