Siaya Senator and ODM Party Leader Dr Oburu Oginga returned to the Senate on Thursday after spending nearly two months away from parliamentary work because of illness. The 83-year-old politician had been receiving treatment both in Kenya and the United Kingdom before making his way back to the House.
His arrival was warmly received by colleagues from different political parties. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi welcomed him and said the senators were clearly happy to see him again. Kingi wished him a full and quick recovery.
When Oburu rose to speak, he looked in good spirits and spoke openly about the difficult period he had gone through. He told the House that at one point during his sickness he feared he might not live long enough to share some of the things he still wanted to say. He added that even while he was lying in bed, he held on to the belief that he would not die before completing the work he still felt he had to do. That determination, he said, is what brought him back.
Oburu’s absence began in early September when he travelled to the United Kingdom for what the party described as a routine medical check-up. He later returned and was admitted to Nairobi Hospital on 2 October.
He remained there until 19 October, after which he continued recovering at home. During that time, false reports of his death circulated on social media. The ODM leadership strongly rejected those claims, calling them malicious and urging the public to rely only on official statements.
Even while away from the Senate floor, Oburu stayed in touch with other leaders and continued to follow party matters.
On 4 November, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Senate Speaker Kingi led a group of lawmakers to visit him at his Nairobi home.
At that meeting he told them he was eager to return to debates and to the political arena.
On his first day back, Oburu used the opportunity to speak about the need for political tolerance. He singled out Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who had visited him during his illness despite their different political positions. Oburu said Methu had called him and checked on him, and that this showed personal relationships should not be destroyed by political disagreements. He reminded the House that political alliances can change, and that friends today can work together tomorrow even if they currently stand on opposite sides.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Oburu called for peaceful competition. He said the country is bigger than any individual leader and that democracy must be allowed to work fairly. Whoever wins, he said, should win through a clean process so that Kenyans can continue living and working together as one people.
His return marks the end of a period of uncertainty for his supporters and for the Senate itself.
After weeks of recovery and public speculation, the veteran politician is once again present in the chamber, ready to take part in the debates and discussions that shape national decisions.
