Oburu Odinga Calls For Unity, Reconciliation At National Prayer Breakfast
News Updated: 28 May 2026 19:41 EAT
ODM Leader Dr Oburu Oginga speaking at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi
ODM leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga delivered an emotional address during the 23rd National Prayer Breakfast at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, where he urged Kenyans to embrace reconciliation, peaceful political competition and national unity ahead of the 2027 General Election. The event brought together President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, senior political leaders, clergy and diplomats.
Speaking after a testimony by former death row inmate David Sankok Whenasi, Oburu revisited painful memories from the aftermath of the failed 1982 coup attempt, revealing that his own brother had once been arrested and charged with treason before being placed on death row at Kamiti Prison.
“And in 1982 in our country, we had an incident—like a coup, an attempted coup to overthrow the government of Kenya. And my own brother was arrested and charged with treason. We didn't know what he had done because he was also a civil servant. He was the Deputy Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards. They are the ones who established the Kenya Bureau of Standards. And he had gone out of the country; he was in Zambia somewhere, and then when he came back, he was arrested and charged with treason.”
Oburu narrated the emotional moment he visited his brother at Kamiti Prison and found him wearing the black uniform associated with death row inmates, saying the sight left him devastated and in tears.
“When I heard about treason, I knew it was something to do with the mandatory death sentence, but I didn't know what that cell you are talking about looked like. So when I went to see him at Kamiti Prison, I found him in a dark uniform—a black uniform. And I had been told that when you wear that black uniform, it means you are on death row, that you are going to die. So when I saw him, I almost collapsed. I cried. But he told me that God is there. ‘I’m not going to be hanged.’ And he laughed about it and he consoled me.”
The veteran politician said the prison experience strengthened his family’s faith, adding that his brother immersed himself in both the Bible and the Quran while in detention.
“My brother told me he read the Bible many times when he was there, and he also read the Quran so many times when he was there. So he knows both the Quran and the Bible; he can quote them freely in his life. Honorable, you went through a very difficult time in order for you to come up with Jesus Christ. That thing called the death row happened in our family when I was working with the government. I was very close and I was senior in the government.”
Oburu also lightened the mood during the gathering when he introduced his wife, Judith Aubu, asking her to pray for the nation and joking about his family life and faith journey before the audience.
“Some people don't want to say they have second wives. Me, I have a second wife who takes care of me, and she’s here with me. She’s the one who prays for our family. She’s born again. Me, I’m not yet there, but she’s pushing me to come closer. Can you just come and pray in this? Just pray and then I sit down. Madame, where are you? Walk faster. They will take this mic from me.”
Judith Aubu then led a national prayer for peace and healing, asking God to protect Kenya from conflict and preserve unity among leaders and citizens.
“Father God, we want to thank you. We bless your holy name because you are faithful. Jehovah God, we thank you for this nation, Kenya. We stand in the gap for this country. We thank you because Kenya is an island of peace. We want to pray that you may heal this land of Kenya, Jehovah, that we shall find peace. That nothing bad shall go wrong in the country of Kenya.”
As he concluded his speech, Oburu stressed that political rivalry should never turn into hostility, saying leaders must compete democratically while respecting one another regardless of political differences.
“This word ‘reconciliation’ and ‘love’ is pertinent in our country. Because if we don't reconcile, if we don't take political competition as a brotherly exercise enshrined in our own constitution—we just compete as brothers and sisters. We are not enemies. Don't make political competition enmity. It is not enmity.”
The ODM leader also reflected on the current cooperation between ODM and President Ruto’s administration, admitting that he once believed the 2022 election had been unfairly won before the formation of the broad-based government.
“President Ruto was the opponent of my brother in the last elections. I never ever dreamt that I would sit down with him across the table because I believed, maybe wrongly, that he stole our elections. But today we are together in a broad-based government. We are working together and I’m saying the vision which my brother had—and we came together in the broad-based government—is going to continue.”
Oburu warned against political persecution and urged future leaders to uphold democracy, freedom and fairness even after elections, saying Kenya must never return to the dark days of political oppression.
“Let us go for free, fair competition in the next elections in 2027 and let the best person win. Let everybody compete and let the person win and become the President. And even if you come to power, don't oppress others. Don't take them to prison like Rauchi was there for 24 years. Don't take anybody to prison. We are past that and we want to continue to be a peaceful country.”
The Siaya Senator ended his remarks with a passionate appeal for Kenyans not to take peace for granted, warning that national stability remains critical for development and coexistence.
“We want our country to be peaceful. We don't want war. We don't want conflicts in our country. Don’t take peace for granted. You don't know how dear it is until you lose it. When you have it, you take it for granted. But when you lose it, you will regret. I pray for the President, pray for the country so that our country can remain an island of peace.”
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