Senator Oburu Odinga has found himself at the center of public outrage after moving to court to block the construction of a second-hand clothes market in Bondo Town.
The project, aimed at improving conditions for local mitumba traders, was halted by a court injunction secured by Oburu and a relative, Dickson Oruko.
With hundreds of traders hoping for better working spaces and livelihoods, residents are questioning whose interests Oburu really serves — the people or his private land lease?
Oburu Odinga uses courts to stall market that benefits the poor
Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Odinga has gone to court to stop the construction of a mitumba market in Bondo Town — and he won, at least for now.
On May 27, 2025, the Siaya Environment and Lands Court issued an injunction halting the development. The move followed a petition filed by Oburu and his relative Dickson Oruko. Represented by lawyer Sylvia Nyambeki, they claimed ownership of the land under a 99-year lease effective from July 2024.
The court’s decision blocked further work on the parcels identified as Bondo Township/58 and Bondo Township/59. This ruling came less than a month after Siaya Governor James Orengo officially launched the project on May 5, promising traders a clean, modern space to conduct their mitumba business.
The petitioners argue the county government trespassed on their legally acquired land and that procedures were ignored. They also accuse informal traders of using the land without permission.
But the timing and motivations raise questions. Why did Oburu stay silent until now? And more importantly, why would a sitting senator fight a development project aimed at lifting small traders out of poverty?
Traders left stranded as Oburu Odinga fights market
Construction of the Bondo mitumba market was a long-awaited relief for hundreds of small-scale vendors.
Many have been operating in open spaces, exposed to rain, dust, and unsafe conditions. Governor Orengo’s move to build a permanent structure brought hope to women, youth, and jobless families trying to make ends meet through the second-hand clothes business.
Now, thanks to Oburu Odinga’s court action, their dreams are in limbo. Residents are angry. Several traders told local media they felt betrayed by a leader they once voted for. Some expressed fears that this is just another example of political elites putting personal interests ahead of community needs.
“Why didn’t Oburu object when the market was being launched? Why wait until construction starts?” asked Mary Achieng, a trader who has sold clothes in Bondo for ten years. “We thought he was one of us. Now we see he only protects land, not people.”
Community leaders also question whether the land lease is being used as a smokescreen. Rumors are swirling that the land was idle for years and only became valuable when the county tried to develop it for public use.
Oburu Odinga accused of selfishness in Bondo land fight
This isn’t just a land dispute. It’s about livelihoods, dignity, and leadership. Senator Oburu Odinga is no stranger to controversy. As the elder brother of opposition leader Raila Odinga, he has enjoyed political power for decades.
Critics say he has grown distant from the people who once saw the Odingas as champions of the poor. By dragging the county government to court and halting construction of a community market, Oburu now faces accusations of greed and entitlement.
The National Land Commission, listed as an interested party in the suit, may also be forced to reveal how a 99-year lease was quietly issued in 2024 — just before the land was slated for public use.
The big question is: who gave the green light? And was the public ever consulted?
Some observers believe the land should have been repossessed if it lay idle for years. Others argue that if Oburu truly wanted to help, he could have partnered with the county to find a win-win solution. Instead, he went to court. And now families who depend on mitumba sales are left waiting.
