Ababu a paper tiger, say ODM leaders
ODM chairman John Mbadi (centre) flanked by MPs Fred Outa, Peter Kaluma and Oburu Odinga at a fundraiser in Bondo on July 15, 2016. Mbadi and five other ODM legislators have said their former secretary-general Ababu Namwamba has no capacity to wreck the party. PHOTO | NELCON ODHIAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Budalang’i MP on Monday said he had laid the groundwork for reducing ODM’s influence in the Coast and western Kenya.
- ODM chairman John Mbadi and other ODM legislators described Mr Namwamba as a “nobody”, who has been bought cheaply to rock the Opposition.
- Mr Namwamba has consistently denied accusations that money exchanged hands to trigger his decision to leave ODM.
Six Orange party MPs have said their former secretary-general Ababu Namwamba is a “paper tiger” with no capacity to wreck the outfit.
The MPs were responding to statements by Mr Namwamba that he is on a mission to neutralise ODM’s influence. They termed this as inconsequential and “kicks of a dying horse”.
The Budalang’i MP on Monday said he had laid the groundwork for reducing ODM’s influence in the Coast and western Kenya.
Mr Namwamba was speaking with disgruntled MPs during a tour of the Coast on Sunday. He said his “Third Force” would have a massive impact in the two regions that back ODM.
“After traversing the Coast region at the weekend, we are happy with the way we were received by leaders and supporters of ODM who are disgruntled by the way the party is being run by its current leadership,” said Mr Namwamba.
He was hosted by Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi and his Ganze counterpart Peter Shehe.
But speaking to the Nation on Tuesday, ODM chairman John Mbadi, director of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi and MPs Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Simba Arati (Dagoretti), Fred Outa (Nyando) and Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) described Mr Namwamba as a “nobody”, who has been bought cheaply to rock the Opposition.
DENIED ACCUSATIONS
Mr Namwamba has consistently denied accusations that money exchanged hands to trigger his decision to leave ODM.
Mr Mbadi said the MP was on a drive to impress his masters.
“If Mr Namwamba was not bought and is not working with Jubilee as he claims, then the so-called ‘Third Force’ would not be fighting the Opposition but the people in power,” said Mr Mbadi.
Mr Kaluma said: “Ababu cannot kill ODM’s influence in any way. His attacks on ODM and Cord confirms he is working for Jubilee.” The criticism of Mr Namwamba comes in the wake of revelations by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale that he and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula met the then disgruntled Orange party MPs from western Kenya, a few days before they resigned from the party.
Mr Khalwale, who spoke on AM Live, a morning show on NTV, said they prevailed upon Mr Namwamba and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma, who resigned from his position of vice-chairman, not to leave ODM.
“We asked Mr Namwamba to take time before making the move and warned him that joining Jubilee would be catastrophic. We told the two that Jubilee does not resonate well with western Kenya,” said Mr Khalwale who added that they met at Amboseli National Park.
Mr Namwamba quit ODM, citing frustrations from the party.
