Introduction and Early Life
Oburu Ng’ong’a Oginga (commonly called Dr. Oburu Odinga) is a longstanding Kenyan politician, economist and a key player in the contemporary Kenyan history.
Oburu was born on 15 October, 1943 in Sakwa, Bondo, in what was then the Kenya Colony, grew up in a family that was deeply involved in the process of the building, the problems and development of the Kenyan nation.
He is part of the highly respected Odinga political dynasty. He is a son of Kenya’s iconic nationalist leader, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who has been the first vice president of the country. Having lived through this political dynasty, Oburu’s life and career was full of high-stakes politics, opposition and a constant quest for democratic reforms.
Oburu, together with his late brother Raila Odinga and sister Ruth Odinga, has been continuing a legacy that is defined by opposition politics and civic advocacy over decades.
Educational Background and Early Career
Rather than pursue a course into active national politics, Oburu developed a solid academic resume on economics before diving into the rough seas of active national politics. He went on to take a further education in the U.K. obtaining a Masters of Science (MSc) in Economics from 1963-1967 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics from 1967-1970. He has also attended the Kenya Institute of Administration where he learned public administration with a specialisation in finance.
Armed with high academic qualifications, Oburu first put his knowledge into practice in both the public and private sectors. He served as a general manager for Lutatco and finance director at Lohre Transports before relocating to Kisumu where he worked as a senior administrative Assistant.
He worked as an economist from 1981 to 1994 in the Kenyan Ministry of Planning and National Development, where he helped create the economic structures for the public sector, and eventually in elective politics.
Parliamentary Career and Legislative Roles
Starting his formal political career in his home constituency was the way Oburu got into politics. For many years he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bondo, a seat which he captured and held under the banner of the National Development Party (NDP), the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) and subsequently the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In his 20 years of service in the National Assembly, Oburu established a reputation as a knowledgeable financial policy and public resource management expert. He served on a number of committees of Parliament such as the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade and the Public Investments Committee.
A significant step in his executive governance career was during the establishment of the Grand Coalition government in the wake of the 2007 political crisis. Oburu was appointed Assistant Minister for Finance in 2008 and held the position until 2013. He was also a nominated Member of the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017 after the changes in the nature of his electorate.
Regional Diplomacy and Senate Leadership
In 2017, Oburu took his parliamentary agenda further afield by being elected as a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) representing Kenya. He continued to serve in EALA between 2017 and 2022, and he was involved in discussions on regional integration, legislative harmonization, and cross-border policies.
In his bid to resume the local politics he enjoyed in his homeland, Oburu ran for and was elected to the senate for Siaya County, replacing James Orengo, ahead of the general elections in August 2022. Upon assuming his mandate as senator for Siaya, he transferred his experience in administration, economic and legislative work to the Senate where he served as one of the senior political voices in his home county.
Literary Contributions and Autobiographical Work
In addition to his legislative and administrative work, Oburu also recorded his own stories and the political history of his family and nation. In 2021 he released his autobiography called In the Shadow of My Father with the help of Bethuel Oduo.
The book provides a close-up account of being raised in the shadow of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s tumultuous political life, and firsthand accounts of the private and public tribulations of the Odinga family.
Taking the Helm at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
With major shakeups and change in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) especially after his brother and leader of the party, Raila Odinga, died, Oburu was suddenly promoted to the top of the party.
He temporarily took over the leadership, later confirmed as substantive leader of the ODM party which was one of the most influential political parties in Kenya ushering it into a new era. In this role, he has been deeply involved in national political negotiations, party strategy and grassroots mobilization.
Personal Life and Legacy
Oburu has been a rock for his family and political friends for a long time in his public career. He is a highly esteemed elder statesman, economist and guardian of his family’s illustrious political legacy, and is still charting the course through the rocky waters of Kenyan public service.
Despite the periodic medical absences and rests as recommended by his doctors, he has stayed close to national governance and party business, and his feet are always firmly on the ground in Kenya’s political landscape.
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