ODM party leader Oburu Oginga/SCREENGRAB

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has thanked Kenyans for their support during his illness, saying he is gradually recovering and hopes to resume public engagements soon.

Speaking virtually at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday during the closing rally of Mwezi wa Baba, Oburu said he had received messages of sympathy and wishes for a quick recovery.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for having sympathised with me during the time I've been sick. I've been sick like any other human being,” he said.

Oburu said he was taking time to recover but hoped to rejoin political activities soon.

“Going out and coming here is good. Slowly, it takes time. I'm soon going to be out with you to do the activities which lead to the development of our country,” he said.

He did not disclose the nature of his illness or give a specific date for his return to public engagements.

The rally marked the final day of ODM activities held in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died earlier this month. Oburu took over the party's leadership following Raila's death.

Beyond his health update, Oburu addressed ODM's relationship with President William Ruto's broad-based government, insisting the party was participating in the arrangement deliberately and through established structures.

“We are in this broad-based government, and we are not there blindly,” he said, adding that ODM was pursuing negotiations and would establish a separate coalition team before February next year.

Oburu's remarks come as ODM navigates a political transition following the death of its longtime leader, with the new party chief expected to play a central role in guiding its next steps.