Oburu Odinga Stops Speech Eyes Failing at Naivasha UDA-ODM Retreat

ODM leader Oburu Odinga paused his prepared address halfway through the Broad-Based Government meeting in Naivasha on 10 August 2026. He informed the room that his failing eyesight prevented him from continuing to read. The moment drew laughter from President William Ruto and other leaders gathered at Lake Naivasha Resort for the joint UDA ODM retreat.

The hall fell quiet at first. Oburu stood at the lectern facing the packed room of governors, MPs and senior officials. He began in a steady tone. “Your Excellency, I stand before you today not to play the transient game of politics but to answer the enduring call of statesmanship.” He spoke of the future of the nation and its children. Then his voice shifted. He looked down at the papers again. The words blurred.

He stopped. The room waited. “Yes, Your Excellency, my eyes are failing me. So I will leave this speech.” Laughter rolled through the leaders. Some clapped lightly. Others shook their heads with smiles.

Oburu set the papers aside. “I will deposit it here with you people.” He kept talking from memory. The formal script was gone. The message stayed.

Why Did Oburu Stop Reading His Speech?

Oburu stopped reading his speech because his eyes were failing him and he could no longer see the text clearly enough to continue.

He addressed the crowd directly after putting the papers down. The three-day retreat brought together United Democratic Alliance and Orange Democratic Movement leaders to review their working partnership ahead of the 2027 general election.

President William Ruto chaired the session alongside Oburu. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and several governors, including Susan Kihika of Nakuru, sat in the room. The gathering opened on 10 August 2026 at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County.

Oburu pressed on without the written notes. He told the leaders the two parties now stood tied together. He urged everyone to drop any hesitation. “We must urge that we let us be straightforward.

If you have an issue that you want to raise, raise it honestly. Do not be a fence sitter. Decide where you are because we want to know who is with us and who is not with us.” The words landed with force. No one interrupted.

What Happened After Oburu Abandoned The Script?

Oburu abandoned the script and continued speaking freely while the leaders laughed and then returned to the serious agenda of the retreat.

He contrasted the current arrangement with the earlier handshake under former President Uhuru Kenyatta. That earlier deal brought no Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary posts for ODM. The present partnership felt different.

Ruto later reminded the room that the late Raila Odinga had backed key programmes on housing and universal health coverage. The atmosphere mixed light moments with serious talk on strategy and unity.

The retreat runs through 11 August 2026. Leaders checked in the day before. They plan to leave on Tuesday. Discussions cover parliamentary business coalition affairs and preparations for the next election cycle.

Oburu made clear ODM would not field its own presidential candidate. Support would go to Ruto. Other positions remained open for negotiation. He even asked aloud whether he deserved the number two slot.

The brief struggle with the speech became the talk of the morning. Cameras captured the pause. Leaders in the room reacted with open amusement. Oburu recovered quickly. He finished his points standing tall.

The papers stayed on the lectern. He had already said what mattered. The meeting moved forward with the same energy. Western and central region voices mixed in the discussion. The focus stayed on holding the broad-based team together against rising opposition activity.

Oburu left the podium after handing over the unread text for reference. He told the group he had already covered the main ideas. Another wave of laughter followed. The session continued under the joint leadership of Ruto and the ODM party head.