ODM leader Oburu Oginga sparked laughter at a political retreat in Naivasha after abandoning his prepared speech midway, saying his eyes were failing him.
Oburu was addressing leaders from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM during their Broad-Based Government meeting in Naivasha on Monday when he paused while reading his speech.
“My eyes are failing me. So I will leave this speech,” Oburu said, drawing laughter from those in the room.
He then put aside the written speech and continued speaking without relying on his notes.
The veteran politician used the unscripted moment to emphasise the importance of the meeting and the relationship between the two parties.
“But, Your Excellency, we came here as a fraternity. We came here to gel together,” he said.
Oburu’s remarks came as UDA and ODM leaders met in Naivasha to discuss their political cooperation and the future of the Broad-Based Government.
The retreat brings together senior officials and leaders from the two parties as they assess their working relationship and look ahead to the 2027 General Election.
The meeting also comes at a time when political parties are beginning to position themselves for the next election, with questions surrounding alliances, party structures and possible cooperation taking centre stage.
Despite the light moment, Oburu’s decision to continue without his prepared speech underlined the political message of the retreat.
He urged the leaders to focus on working together rather than allowing political differences to undermine their cooperation.
The moment quickly became one of the most memorable scenes from the meeting, with Oburu’s admission about his eyesight breaking the seriousness of the political gathering.
However, his message after putting away the speech remained firmly political.
The ODM leader stressed the need for the two sides to build closer ties as they deliberate on the country’s political future.
The Naivasha meeting is therefore expected to provide a platform for UDA and ODM leaders to discuss their partnership, areas of cooperation and the road ahead as the 2027 election approaches.
The post ‘My Eyes Are Failing Me’: Oburu Stops Speech Midway at UDA-ODM Retreat appeared first on Tukio.