Ababu defiant even as his political fortunes take a dip

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba is a man immersed in politics, and he could be facing his lowest moment since he made his debut in the National Assembly about eight years ago.

Recently, he was not only removed from the helm of the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC), now dissolved, but also barred from sitting in the new one.

His error, according to the Powers and Privileges Committee, was that he made unsubstantiated corruption claims against some of his colleagues in the defunct committee.

His woes were compounded by the decision of High Court Judge Weldon Korir who declined to issue temporary orders barring the implementation of a damning report by the Powers and Privileges Committee, which recommended that they do not sit in the new PAC.

Mr Namwamba earned the nickname Jenerali (General) because of his unflinching defence of ODM party leader Raila Odinga years ago.

Whereas some say his rise through party ranks has been meteoric, to others, it has been earned through steady and demonstrated commitment to the ideals and agenda of the movement.

To some, Mr Namwamba’s life in ODM has been a classic case of a political supernova – that of a man who radiates as much light as the sun before fading away.

Within ODM circles, there was talk that some members want him replaced as secretary-general in the wake of the decision to disband the PAC. However, fear the action would have serious political ramifications for a party that is hoping to capture state power in 2017 has complicated the plot.

Mr Namwamba is no doubt one of the most promising politicians from western Kenya, and hounding him out of the position would certainly have an effect on the party and Mr Odinga’s presidential bid.

Still, faced with dwindling fortunes that he attributes to machinations within his party as well as elements in the ruling Jubilee Alliance, the son of Budalang’i––according to the grapevine––could be looking beyond ODM, an issue he has dismissed with contempt.

"LOOKING WEST'

With President Uhuru Kenyatta “looking west” in his bid to attract the Luhya into his fold which started with the nomination of former Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa to the Cabinet, the idea cannot be completely ruled out that that the Head of State could be toying with the idea of having influential and disgruntled ODM members on his side ahead of the next General Election.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is also said to be among those on Mr Kenyatta’s radar.

In the face of the quandary, the lawmaker is, however, projecting an image of a battle-hardened general warning those who have “rushed” to write him off as committing a grave mistake.

“You can never dim a bright star by throwing cheap mud at it. I am in a better political place today than I was yesterday. Now I know my political enemies intimately and their style. Take it from me, this star can only shine brighter,” he said.