Why Odinga family's multi-front political strategy could keep them at the centre of power

• The Odinga family has publicly expressed interest in different elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections
• Winnie Odinga appeared to align with the Linda Mwananchi formation, while Raila Junior showed signs of warming to the broad-based government side
• TUKO.co.ke spoke to political analyst and expert Billy Mijungu, who explained how the Odinga family could remain politically influential

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Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.

The Odinga family is navigating Kenya's political landscape on multiple fronts simultaneously, with different members appearing to align with rival political formations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The family that built its legacy around the late former prime minister Raila Odinga appears to be repositioning rather than retreating, with each prominent member carving out a distinct political lane.

Winnie, Raila Junior and the family divide

The most striking development is the apparent divergence between Raila's children. EALA MP Winnie Odinga, the last-born of the family, is contesting the Nairobi senatorial race, while her brother is eyeing the Kibra parliamentary position.

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Rosemary Odinga and other family members are considered potential candidates for parliamentary and county seats, while Kisumu woman representative Ruth Odinga sets her sights on the Kisumu governorship.

While the family was originally backing the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, Winnie is reportedly gravitating towards the Linda Mwananchi opposition formation, while Junior appears to be warming to President William Ruto's broad-based government arrangement.

Ruth also hinted at ditching the ODM party, as Siaya senator and party leader Oburu Oginga remains a firm supporter of Ruto. It is not clear whether Oburu will defend his senatorial seat.

The political direction of Ida Odinga, Raila's widow, the family matriarch, remains unclear.

What choices could shape Winnie’s leadership ambitions?

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, political analyst Billy Mijungu argues that Winnie presents a different political calculation.

Her future may lie increasingly within the opposition, but hers appears to be a longer game: not merely joining an existing political formation, but positioning herself for eventual leadership at the highest level.

He argues that Winnie faces the challenge of retaining an independent voice while building alliances with the younger generation of opposition leaders.

"Joining one of their parties without a distinct political platform could limit her ability to shape the national conversation. A separate political vehicle, led by her but capable of working within a broader opposition alliance, could offer a different route. That remains a political possibility rather than a settled destination," he said, adding that "But if her ambition is ultimately to reach the pinnacle of national leadership, the choices she makes now will matter enormously."

Ruth Odinga and the Kisumu governorship

According to Mijungu, governing Kisumu would require administrative competence, political maturity, fiscal discipline, and the ability to translate public expectations into measurable development.

As per him, if Ruth enters the race and demonstrates these qualities, she could surprise many observers.

"She has the potential to become a consequential county leader, although that outcome would depend on her performance, the electoral contest and the strength of her development agenda," he said.

Ida Odinga, Oburu Odinga's roles in family politics

Mijungu noted that Ida's continued engagement with opposition figures has drawn sharp criticism from allies of Ruto, who have taken issue with her attendance at gatherings that include opposition leaders.

Within the ODM succession question, Siaya senator Oburu Oginga remains a pivotal figure anchoring the family's relationship with the party.

"The longer-term question is succession, and the visibility of his sons in public life suggests that the family is keen to preserve its political presence across generations," he observed.

"These possibilities should not be mistaken for guaranteed outcomes. Kenyan politics is fiercely competitive, and family names alone cannot secure elections or guarantee effective leadership. Voters retain the final word," he added.

So, the family is not simply defending a legacy; it appears to be navigating a transition across generations, institutions, and political alliances.

Mijungu cautioned that family name alone would not determine electoral outcomes in a competitive environment, noting that Luo voters had shown they were capable of shifting allegiance based on principle and political direction rather than personal loyalty.

The central observation remains that the Odingas are not operating as a single political bloc but as a network of individuals pursuing overlapping but distinct objectives, present in government corridors, party structures, county politics, and opposition negotiations, sometimes at the same time.

"The Odingas may be present in government corridors, party headquarters, parliamentary contests, county politics and opposition negotiations, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes through different family members pursuing different objectives. You will see them everywhere," he noted.

ODM struggles as Linda Mwananchi gains ground

Meanwhile, the Thursday, October 15, anniversary of the former ODM leader served as a deliberate show of political openness, drawing figures from across the divide, and it was Linda Mwananchi, not ODM, that emerged with greater visibility from the occasion.

"To some, this may have been uncomfortable, particularly those who had enjoyed a privileged association with Raila. But politics is rarely about sentiment alone. It is about relationships, options and the preservation of influence," he noted.

ODM, the party Odinga built into a national force, was expected to lead the memorial proceedings.

Instead, the Linda Mwananchi formation took the spotlight, a development Mijungu described as damaging to the broad-based government's ambitions of inheriting Raila's political base in his Luo stronghold.

Former ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna's prominence at the event was seen as particularly notable, drawing attention away from the broader narrative the Ruto-aligned camp had sought to shape.

Sifuna vows to return crown to Bondo

Meanwhile, Sifuna vowed to honour Raila every year, citing his significant contributions to his political career.

He expressed confidence in winning the 2027 presidential race and presenting his win to Raila for "something he had fought for several years."

He slammed the ODM leaders who failed to show up for the commemoration of the opposition icon who led the party for decades.

Source: TUKO.co.ke