• A candid video of ODM party leader Oburu Odinga at home on September 1 began circulating widely on social media
  • Oburu and a companion were filmed seated on a couch reading a Daily Nation edition carrying a headline 
  • The informal home footage captured Oburu in a relaxed, conversational mood that struck a chord with Kenyan viewers online

The Orange Democratic Movement party leader, Oburu Odinga has had to read today's newspaper to prove to Kenyans that he is of sound health. 

Oburu became an unlikely talking point on social media on September 1after it was rumoured that he had been re-admitted in hospital and no one was allowed to visit him, exept his family members

The footage shared on Facebook showed the elderly politician in a living room, shows Oburu and another man seated together on a couch.

Between them on the coffee table sat a full tea service, complete with cups, plates and condiments, the kind of scene more familiar from a quiet Sunday morning than a political briefing.

Oburu and the Daily Nation Headline

What caught many viewers' attention was the physical copy of the Daily Nation the two men were reading. Clearly visible on the front page was a headline referencing Mariga as a "hot potato," a phrase that would resonate with anyone following Kenyan political gossip at the time.

The video carries the relaxed, unguarded energy of footage not intended for broadcast. At one point, Oburu can be heard saying, "Uh... you can mention it. Okay, okay," in the middle of what sounds like an informal conversation, suggesting the camera caught him mid-discussion rather than mid-speech.

The clip's appeal lies precisely in its ordinariness. There are no press conferences, no podiums and no prepared remarks. Instead, it offers a glimpse of one of Kenya's most prominent political figures simply going about a quiet morning at home, newspaper in hand.

Earlier, The Daily Nation had reported that Oburuwas unwell and only his family could visist him but he has since refused that it was a for a serious visit.

"Thank you for your concerns. I have read the nations digital news and wish to state that I am very well. ​I had only briefly visited the hospital for a general check up with my doctors and have since returned home," he said. 
​"Being sick is a normal human experience and should not alarm anyone. The day I am truly sick, I will inform you all, for I am a very transparent person.Thanks for your concerns," he added.