Oburu Credits Methu for Support During Illness Despite Political Rivalry

 

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has praised DCP Secretary-General John Methu. Oburu spoke during his first Senate appearance since a string of hospital stays. He said Methu stayed in touch throughout his illness.

According to Oburu, Methu visited his Karen home and called him often. Oburu said many people assume the two are enemies. Those assumptions, he suggested, come from their heated public exchanges.

Methu called on Oburu on September 4, 2026, shortly after the ODM leader's discharge from hospital. He arrived with two goats and two rams as a gesture of goodwill. The visit came while DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua was on a trip to the United States.

Oburu explained that the two often clash over policy. Yet he argued that political disagreement should not sever personal ties. Rivals, he noted, frequently find themselves on the same side later.

He also spoke warmly of his friendship with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. Oburu described Kalonzo as one of his closest friends and a former adviser. That bond, he said, has endured through recent political realignments.

Colleagues greeted Oburu with a standing ovation when he returned to the Senate on November 12, 2026. He has faced several health setbacks this year. He checked into Nairobi Hospital on October 4 for hypertension and fatigue. He marked his 83rd birthday there and was discharged on October 19.

The illness forced him to miss major occasions. He was not present at the opening of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum on October 7. He also sat out several campaign missions linked to the broad-based government.