ODM replaces county assembly's minority leader, whip

ODM has cracked the whip on its leadership at Nairobi County Assembly by replacing the minority leader and the whip.

This comes following weeks of wrangles among Nasa MCAs after some were de-whipped by ODM leadership from their committees.

IMMEDIATE REMOVAL

Lats week, Imara Daima MCA Ken Obuya and nominated MCA Mary Arivisa fell victims of the realignments.

Mr Obuya was removed from the Speaker’s Panel (chairperson’s panel) and Ms Arivisa from the Education committee. She was taken to Loans and Mortgages committee.

And in a letter addressed to assembly acting Speaker Chege Mwaura, ODM Chairman John Mbadi, called for the immediate removal of the minority leader and Kileleshwa MCA Elias Otieno, and minority chief whip Peter Imwatok. 

The letter stated that the two have been replaced by Highrise MCA Kennedy Oyugi and Lower Savanna’s Nicholas Okumu respectively.

“Pursuant to powers conferred to me by the Constitution of ODM, I hereby communicate the decision taken by the party to remove the earlier designated minority leader and whip as stipulated in the Nairobi County Assembly Standing Order 21 (7) and (9),” read the letter dated October 25.

RECONCILE MEMBERS

Last week, Mr Mbadi, also the Suba MP, had written to the party leadership at the assembly asking them to put on hold the changes to give room for reconciliation of the members.

“Following consultation with a section of ODM ward reps of the Nairobi County Assembly, and with the party leader, you are hereby advised to put on hold any changes to the committee representation as we explore ways of reconciling our members in the assembly. You are further advised to reinstate the other members, who had earlier been discharged from their committees,” read the letter.

But the new letter overrode the earlier communication. “Therefore, this letter overrides the earlier communication from the party,” Mr Mbadi said.

The letter is copied to ODM leader Raila Odinga, acting assembly Clerk Nancy Mutai, Mr Otieno, Mr Imwatok, Mr Oyugi and Mr Okumu.

ODM Commucation Director Philip Etale confirmed the changes on his social media page.

REACTION

“ODM has written to the Speaker of the county assembly of Nairobi notifying him of the changes it has made in the leadership of the minority party,” Mr Etale said.

Mr Otieno, who was in the office at the time the MCAs served him with the letter, dismissed the reps, calling them 'renegades'. “You cannot intimidate me, and please don’t try me,” he said.

Standing Order 21 (7) of the Nairobi County Assembly stipulates that the minority leader may be removed by the party or coalition of parties that designated him or her by two thirds of the votes of all members.

Addressing journalists at City Hall, Mr Oyugi and Mr Okumu accepted the appointments.