“He Stole Our Votes”: Oburu Changes Tune on Working With Ruto After Days of Doubt

Siaya Senator and ODM leader Oburu Oginga has once again stirred Kenya’s political conversation after openly reflecting on his shifting political stance toward President William Ruto and the evolving “broad-based government” arrangement that now defines Kenya’s current power structure.

Speaking in remarks that have since gone viral under the hashtag #K24Siasa, Oburu admitted that there was a time he never imagined sitting at the same table with Ruto. 

He said he previously believed — “maybe wrongly” — that Ruto had stolen the election, a sentiment that echoed the deep political divisions that followed past electoral contests in the country.

However, Oburu noted that political realities have since changed, forcing former rivals to reconsider their positions in the interest of national stability and governance. 

Today, he said, he finds himself working alongside the same leadership he once strongly opposed, within what has been branded a broad-based government.

His comments come at a time when President Ruto has intensified efforts to promote unity across political divides, arguing that cooperation between Kenya’s major political camps is essential for development and national healing. 

Recent political developments have seen parts of the opposition, including ODM-linked figures, engaging more closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Oburu’s remarks also reflect the broader political recalibration taking shape ahead of the 2027 election cycle, where alliances are increasingly fluid and ideological boundaries between parties are becoming less rigid. 

Analysts say this shift signals a new era of consensus politics, even as critics question whether such arrangements dilute accountability.

As debate continues online and in political circles, Oburu’s admission highlights a reality now hard to ignore in Kenyan politics: yesterday’s opponents are today’s partners in a rapidly shifting political landscape.