OBURU HAS CURSED WINNIE?
A purported explosive statement from Siaya Senator and ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga has gone viral on social media, intensifying speculation about a deepening rift within the Odinga political family and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The message, widely circulated with dramatic captions claiming "things out of control" and Oburu "cursing" his niece Winnie Odinga, reads: "The day you will wake up and see ODM swimming in Lake Victoria, it's the day you will learn to respect those people who saw the sun before you. If I sleep today, I will sleep to my left hand because of you Winnie. Oburu Odinga." The phrase "sleep to my left hand" is interpreted by some as a veiled Luo cultural reference to deep frustration or a symbolic curse, while the "ODM swimming in Lake Victoria" imagery suggests a dramatic downfall or dissolution of the party if disrespect continues.
The alleged outburst comes amid escalating tensions between Oburu, who assumed leadership of ODM following Raila Odinga's reduced active role, and Winnie Odinga, the EALA MP and Raila's daughter, who has openly challenged senior party figures—including her uncle—for allegedly deviating from the party's founding principles and Raila's legacy. Winnie has held fiery rallies, such as one at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibera, where she declared that "no one can copy-paste Baba" (Raila) and warned of tough times ahead, drawing support from younger leaders like Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna.
This has revived old folklore about the "Jaramogi curse," with some drawing parallels to unverified stories of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga cursing Raila for past defiance. Luo elders from the Kawuor clan have publicly urged Winnie and her brother Raila Junior to respect Oburu as the eldest son and party leader, warning against actions seen as disrespectful.
Family and party insiders have moved to contain the damage, dismissing the viral quote as potentially fabricated or exaggerated for sensationalism. Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga and others have labeled rift narratives as "manufactured" by social media, insisting the Odinga family remains united with space for open debate. Winnie herself has stated she respects Oburu as ODM leader and her only remaining father figure post-Raila's era. No direct confirmation or denial from Oburu or Winnie on the specific statement has emerged, but the episode underscores generational and ideological strains in ODM as it prepares for future elections and navigates its post-Raila landscape.
