Siaya Senator and ODM leader Oburu Odinga has stepped down as chairperson of the Senate Energy Committee, saying his decision was driven by circumstances he could not control.
Oburu announced his resignation during a meeting of the committee on Tuesday, August 11, but did not give details of what exactly had pushed him to leave the powerful Senate panel.
The veteran politician was keen to make one thing clear he had not been pushed out.
Oburu said the decision was his own and asked that it should not be interpreted as a coup or a forced removal.
“The reasons (why I am vacating) are beyond my own self-control. I have resigned. Nobody should say that I have been removed. There is no coup here. There is only a peaceful transfer, and whoever you elect will peacefully take over,” he said.
Oburu took over as chair of the Energy Committee in February 2025, replacing Nyeri Senator Wamatinga Wahome, who had held the position for about 18 months.
He will, however, remain a member of the committee despite giving up the chair.
His exit comes nearly two months after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was removed from the committee during changes to Senate standing committees announced on June 17.
Sifuna has since become a political opponent of Oburu, with the ODM party going through its own internal political battles ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Following Oburu’s resignation, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang, who had been the committee’s vice-chairperson, was elected to take over as chair.
Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla of ODM was also elected as the new vice-chairperson.
Oburu’s resignation has also come at an interesting time politically.
Just a day earlier, President William Ruto announced that Kenya Kwanza and ODM had formally agreed to work together in the 2027 General Election.
Ruto made the announcement on Monday, August 10, saying the two political formations had reached the agreement after consultations within their respective parties.
The two sides are also expected to work on a joint manifesto ahead of the election.
With the 2027 polls now less than a year away, Oburu’s decision to give up the committee leadership could give him more room to concentrate on his role in ODM and the party’s political plans.
For now, however, Oburu remains on the Energy Committee and has not explained what he meant by circumstances beyond his control.
