Ababu quits ODM post, accuses Raila of betrayal

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has resigned as ODM secretary general citing frustrations, betrayal and lack of respect from top party leaders.

He said that he will soon ditch the party.

Mr Namwamba accused party leader Raila Odinga of betraying him despite assuring him support and blessings when he showed interest in the position.

He attributed his frustrations in ODM to his interest of becoming party secretary general, saying he was marked as an unwanted candidate by a section of people surrounding Mr Odinga.

“After consulting the Banyala elders who advised me to resign and ditch the party, and from your decision as the electorate of Budalang’i and former ODM delegates, I am giving in to your wish of resigning as the party secretary general,” he said after a meeting of party delegates and elders from his constituency.

“Before I vied for this position, I consulted my friend Raila Odinga and asked him if he thought I could make a good secretary general. He looked me in the eye and told me I am the best person in the party to succeed Prof Anyang Nyong'o. He told me 'to go for it general',” said Mr Namwamba.

Mr Namwamba resignation follows that of Funyula MP Paul Otuoma who also resigned as party vice-chairman on Saturday, citing similar grievances.

The resignations will be a blow to Mr Odinga who is fighting to sustain his political support of the western region.

NEW PARTY

Over 3,500 delegates who gathered at Mundere demanded that Mr Namwamba leaves the Orange party or risk losing his parliamentary seat.

In his announcement, Mr Namwamba also indicated he would soon form another party or join an existing one, saying his 25 years support for ODM had not benefited his community.

“Soon, I and others will hold a press conference and announce the party that will advance the interests of not only the Luhya but Kenyans at large,” he said in what was described as the Mundere Declaration.

“Thank you for your assurance that we will move together to our next home,” he said.

Accusing Mr Odinga of betrayal, he said: “The night before the elections, our fresh team invited the party leader and asked him if he was uncomfortable with any of us. He assured us of his support despite having intelligence that the elections will be disrupted.”

“The main reason I have become a traitor is because they never expected a Luhya, just like they did with Mr Mudavadi, to rise in the party. They expected us to cheer them, follow them and support them forever. I became an enemy when they realised I was poised to win the position,” he said.

He said his efforts to make the nomination criteria transparent also made him an enemy of many.

“When Prof Nyong’o was secretary-general, there was no position of secretary of political affairs, there was no director of elections or director of communications. Why were these positions created when I became the secretary-general? The answer is obvious,” said Mr Namwamba.

He apologised to ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi for opposing his presidential campaign in 2013.

“Just like William Ruto went away with Rift Valley supporters, the former deputy prime minister was running away with the Luhya support but I fought with my ODM Reloaded and countered his inroads. I have now learned the hard way,” he said.

“In 1992 general elections, You voted for former President Daniel Moi, in 1997, you overwhelmingly voted for Ford Kenya leader Wamalwa Kijana and the party candidate as MP,” said Mr Namwamba.

Mr Namwamba dismissed reports that its Raila Odinga who introduced him to Budalang’I politics saying the converse was true.

“In 2004, I joined LDP and we first introduced it here in Budalang’i with less than 100 members. The first time that my friend Raila Odinga visited Bunyala, I invited him .I succeeded to market him here despite resistance from elders,” he said.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)