Raila adviser replaces Magerer in ODM job

A political strategist and long-time adviser to ODM leader Raila Odinga has been appointed the new party’s executive director.

Mr Oduor Ongwen (below) replaces former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat, who was ejected from the party last year following differences between him and some officials.
The new ODM secretariat boss has been working with Mr Odinga as an adviser and boardroom strategist on most of the opposition party’s political strategies.

“There was unanimity that he was capable of driving the party to a new level,” said ODM Chairman John Mbadi.

Mr Odinga is said to have dropped off a letter to Mr Ongwen before he travelled to China last week, where he is leading a group of governors in talks with Chinese investors.
Mr Mbadi said Mr Ongwen was picked from among four other people.

MAJOR RELAUNCH

He comes in at a time when the party is planning a major relaunch of Mr Odinga, who is gearing up for another stab at the Presidency in 2017.

Mr Ongwen yesterday arrived at the ODM secretariat to start his new duties.

When the Nation called him, he said: “I’m busy in a meeting at the moment.”

Deputy Executive Director Joshua Kawino, who was Mr Magerer’s principal assistant, had been widely expected to take over the job but is said to have been blocked by a group of MPs opposed to his style of management.

“There are people who felt Mr Kawino should just be retained in his position to give us an opportunity to inject fresh blood into the secretariat and also as part of wider plans to restructure the party,” said a senior leader.

At the same time, a retreat in Naivasha where party senators, MPs and governors were to discuss the 2017 strategic plan and internal reforms has been postponed.
“The meeting has been postponed because the party leader is not around. A new date will be set,” said Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.