Oburu Ng’ong’a Oginga is a Kenyan economist, politician and veteran public servant who currently serves as the Senator for Siaya County and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Born on October 15, 1943, Oburu is the eldest son of Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and the elder brother of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga. His life and political career have been closely connected to one of Kenya’s most prominent political families.
Early life and education
Oburu was born during the colonial period and grew up at a time when his father was emerging as an important figure in Kenya’s independence movement and later national politics.
His upbringing exposed him early to the political struggles surrounding colonialism, independence and the disagreements that characterised Kenya’s first years as an independent country.
Oburu Odinga, the leader of ODM Party. Photo/@TheODMparty/X
In 1962, Oburu travelled to the Soviet Union for his studies. According to his parliamentary profile, he attended Soviet Secondary School in Moscow between 1962 and 1964 before joining People’s Friendship University.
He studied economics at the university, obtaining a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in economics and, in 1970, a PhD in Economics.
His education would later form the foundation of a long career in economic planning, government and politics.
Career before Parliament
Oburu’s political career began at the local level.
Between 1974 and 1979, he served as an elected councillor in Kisumu Municipality.
He later joined the Ministry of Planning and National Development, where he worked as an economist between 1981 and 1994. His years in the civil service gave him experience in government planning and economic policy before he entered national elective politics.
A major turning point came following the death of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in 1994.
Oburu subsequently entered parliamentary politics and represented Bondo Constituency in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2013.
Government and Parliament
During his years as Bondo MP, Oburu became an established figure in national politics.
Siaya county Senator and ODM party leader Dr Oburu Odinga. Photo Courtesy: People Daily.
Between 2008 and 2013, during President Mwai Kibaki’s Grand Coalition government, he served as Assistant Minister for Finance. The coalition government was formed following the disputed 2007 presidential election, with Raila Odinga serving as Prime Minister.
After leaving the Bondo parliamentary seat in 2013, Oburu served as a nominated Member of Parliament between 2013 and 2017, according to his parliamentary record.
His political career later expanded beyond Kenya.
In December 2017, he was elected to represent Kenya in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). He served at the regional Parliament until 2022 and also held the position of commissioner.
Siaya Senator
Oburu returned to elective Kenyan politics during the 2022 General Election, when he was elected Senator for Siaya County.
He succeeded James Orengo, who moved from the Senate to contest and win the Siaya gubernatorial seat.
As senator, Oburu represents Siaya County in the Senate, where county interests, devolution, legislation and oversight of county governments form part of senators’ constitutional responsibilities.
The official Parliament of Kenya website currently lists him as the ODM Senator for Siaya County.
Oburu Odinga, the Siaya Senator. Photo: William Ruto Source: Facebook
Oburu and the Odinga family
Oburu’s biography is closely intertwined with the political history of the Odinga family.
His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, served as Kenya’s first Vice President before becoming one of the country’s leading opposition politicians.
His younger brother, Raila Odinga, went on to become Prime Minister, longtime opposition leader and a multiple presidential candidate.
Despite being a prominent politician himself, Oburu spent much of his public career alongside the enormous political profiles of his father and younger brother.
That relationship with his father’s legacy became a central theme of his autobiography.
In 2021, Oburu published In the Shadow of My Father, an autobiography compiled with Bethuel Oduo. The book covers his childhood, family, education, political experiences and his perspective on important events in Kenya’s history.
ODM leadership
Following Raila Odinga’s death in October 2025, ODM entered a period of leadership transition.
Oburu subsequently took over leadership of the party and is currently listed by ODM as its Party Leader.
The party’s official leadership structure identifies him as both ODM Party Leader and Senator for Siaya County.
His elevation placed him at the head of the political organisation that his younger brother had led for many years.
Oburu Oginga today
At more than 80 years old, Oburu Oginga is among Kenya’s longest-serving active politicians.
His public career spans local government, the civil service, the National Assembly, the national government, the East African Legislative Assembly and the Senate.
From his beginnings as a Kisumu municipal councillor in the 1970s to becoming Siaya Senator and ODM leader, Oburu’s political journey has unfolded alongside major periods in Kenya’s post-independence history.
He is also an economist by training, an author and a member of a family that has played a significant role in Kenyan politics for several generations.
As of October 2026, Oburu Oginga serves as Siaya Senator and ODM Party Leader, combining his role in Parliament with the responsibility of leading one of Kenya’s major political parties.
