Raila snubs rebels as Jubilee woos them

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga snubbed a reconciliation meeting between him and rebel party MPs Ababu Namwamba and Paul Otuoma, sources have revealed.

The meeting was to be held last week at the Nairobi home of former Cabinet Minister Fred Gumo, who ditched ODM about two years ago.

The meeting aborted after Mr Odinga insisted that the rebel MPs from western Kenya meet him in his Karen home.

The revelation came as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party — The National Alliance — said that Mr Namwamba — the ODM secretary-general — and Dr Otuoma were welcome to join the party, which is a partner in the ruling Jubilee coalition.

Speaking in Kisumu, TNA Secretary-General Onyango Oloo said the ODM leadership had mistreated its lieutenants and supporters and asked the two to decamp to Jubilee, which regards all its leaders as important.

“Ababu and others who will defect in future should know that they have a home in Jubilee and not a party that is being portrayed to be a regional one. They should join the winning side,” said Mr Oloo at St Benedict’s Alendu Catholic Parish.

There have been reports that the ODM rebels are likely to join the Labour Party of Kenya, whose leader is Dr Julia Ojiambo.

MPs from Nyanza at the weekend challenged Mr Namwamba and Dr Otuoma to quit ODM, accusing them of sowing seeds of discord in the party, with barely a year to the next elections.

MPs Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) and Fred Outa (Nyando) accused the two of causing unnecessary friction in the party.

Speaking at a fundraiser in Gem on Sunday, Mr Midiwo accused Dr Otuoma and Mr Namwamba of being used by Jubilee to divide Cord.

“We need to remain united ahead of 2017 and we will not take anything for granted, and anyone who is an ODM official should be committed to serving the party interests and be loyal to Raila,” said Mr Midiwo.

Mr Wandayi and Mr Outa, who were in Boro, Alego Usonga Constituency, said that ODM would not bow to the demands of the disgruntled members.

Dr Otuoma at the weekend said he had resigned as ODM vice-chairman, while Mr Namwamba said he, too, would follow suit unless he is given more powers.

DECISION IS FINAL

Last week, ODM’s Central Management Committee meeting resolved that the rebel MPs and Mr Odinga would meet at the home a of a prominent Luhya personality to solve their differences.

“We agreed ... that there was to be a follow-up meeting between the party leader and the MPs who had raised concerns. But suspicions arose after they suggested that the meeting be held at Gumo’s home,” said ODM Chairman John Mbadi.

The committee meets again next week.

After the talks aborted, the two MPs held a meeting at Bukalama Resort in Busia where Dr Otuoma announced his resignation as vice-chairman while Mr Namwamba threatened to quit if his gun, — meaning his post as secretary-general — was not “loaded with bullets”.

Speaking from London on Monday, Dr Otuoma said the weekend resolutions were final.

“I read a statement on behalf of my nine colleagues — representatives of over one million people — who were elected on ODM tickets from this region. If that does not matter I don’t know what matters,” he said.

Mr Namwamba has also escalated his criticism of Mr Odinga, saying at the weekend that he did not support the ongoing prayer rallies for the Cord MPs facing hate speech charges.

However, one of his critics, Mr Wandayi, said that there was no way Mr Namwamba could demand more powers yet he had not tested the ones he already has.

“How can the two claim that they are undermined yet they are the top most ODM party officials? Who can deter an official from doing his duties?” the MP asked.

Mr Outa asked Mr Namwamba to concentrate on his work and stop tainting the party leadership after failing to deliver.

He said that ODM was bigger than any individual and warned that it would not allow traitors to harm it.

“We will use all our resources to safeguard the wellbeing of ODM,” he said.

Reports by Isaac Ongiri, Rushdie Oudia, Kennedy Okwach, Nelcon Odhiambo and Derick Luvega