Festivities marking the Orange Democratic Movement’s 20th anniversary took an unexpected turn last week after President William Ruto joined party leaders in Mombasa to commemorate two decades of the opposition outfit. The event, meant to celebrate ODM’s resilience, quickly became the subject of national debate following a dramatic moment involving the party’s new leader, Dr. Oburu Odinga.
The celebrations came just weeks after the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 15, an event that left the party and the nation in mourning. In the wake of his death, ODM installed Raila’s elder brother, Dr. Oburu Odinga, as party leader to continue what officials described as the “journey to greatness” charted over the last two decades.
Tensions, however, briefly overshadowed the commemorations when Dr. Oburu accidentally dropped a piece of cake offered to him by President Ruto. The moment, captured on multiple cameras, spread rapidly across social media platforms, sparking commentary, satire, and speculation about the relationship between the President and ODM’s new leadership.
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ODM officials moved quickly to dispel what they called “malicious propaganda” surrounding the incident. In a strongly worded statement, the party insisted that the narrative being pushed online was misleading and intended to undermine Dr. Oburu.
“Anyone with even a pea-sized brain can see through the propaganda,” the statement read. Party insiders explained that Dr. Oburu seldom eats cake at public events and typically avoids icing. According to ODM, it was the icing — not the cake itself — that slipped from his hand.
The party further accused unnamed “busybodies” of attempting to sow discord by manufacturing the impression that Dr. Oburu harbored resentment toward President Ruto. “If such an issue existed,” the statement continued, “Daktari would have said so openly, and the party would have acted accordingly.”
ODM also dismissed a letter circulating online claiming internal friction, calling it the work of individuals who have previously undermined the Youth League.
Despite the uproar, party officials maintained a united front, affirming Dr. Oburu as the undisputed leader of Chama Kubwa and urging members to ignore what they termed “baseless theatrics.”
As ODM prepares for its next chapter in the post-Raila era, the so-called “cake saga” has highlighted both the heightened scrutiny on the party’s leadership transition and the power of social media to shape political narratives — even at moments meant for celebration.
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