NAIROBI, October 8, 2026
False reports claiming that Siaya Senator and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has died have circulated widely on social media, prompting his office, family members and political colleagues to issue statements disputing the claims.
The rumours emerged on Tuesday, October 6, amid existing public concern over the veteran politician’s health. Oburu’s secretariat subsequently said the senator was alive, safe and in good spirits, while confirming that he had been advised by doctors to rest and limit strenuous engagements.
The reports gained traction after social-media posts claimed that the 83-year-old politician had died. His office attributed the latest claims to online misinformation and urged members of the public and the media to rely on official communication rather than unverified social-media posts.
The latest rumours came against the backdrop of genuine concerns about Oburu’s health.
The senator had recently sought medical attention, with ODM communications officials saying he was resting on medical advice. His office said he was continuing to observe doctors’ instructions to reduce heavy physical activity while remaining engaged with party and national affairs.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga also said she had visited Oburu and found him in good spirits. On Wednesday, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna referred to the reports in the Senate, expressing concern about misinformation surrounding his colleague’s health.
The issue remained in the public spotlight after Oburu was unable to attend the handover and dedication ceremony for the mausoleum of his late brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo.
Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, apologised for Oburu’s absence and said he was unwell, while asking Kenyans to continue praying for his recovery. TThe Star
The latest episode is not the first time false reports of Oburu’s death have circulated online.
In September, fact-checking organisation Africa Check investigated social-media posts claiming that Oburu had died. Some of the posts used videos purporting to show President William Ruto announcing his death.
Africa Check found that the videos had been misleadingly edited or taken out of context. In one case, footage of President Ruto referring to the late Raila Odinga was edited in a way that made it appear as though he was announcing Oburu’s death. Another video showing Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto paying respects to a body was actually footage from the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body following his death in October 2025.
Africa Check reported at the time that the false claims had attracted millions of views across social-media platforms.
The recurrence of the rumours has renewed concerns about the speed at which unverified information about prominent public figures can spread online.
Oburu’s office has urged the public to disregard what it described as sensational and unfounded reports and to seek confirmation through official channels. The office also said it was consulting ODM leadership over possible legal action concerning the circulation of the claims.
For now, there is no credible evidence that Oburu Oginga has died. Public statements from his office and political colleagues instead indicate that he is alive and recovering while observing medical advice. His exact medical condition has not been publicly disclosed.
The episode highlights the difficulty of separating genuine health updates from false information online, particularly when rumours involve prominent political figures and are accompanied by old, edited or misleading video footage.
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