Raila to meet ODM MCAs as leadership wrangles continue

A battle for control of the Nairobi assembly minority leadership looms as members resume duty Tuesday after a week-long recess.

A meeting with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, to end the wrangles, has been planned.

RIVALRY

Wars among ODM members of county assembly (MCAs) have resulted in two factions and threaten to cause splits as the rival groups jostle for legitimacy.

Last month, ODM chairman John Mbadi (Suba South) wrote to acting Speaker Chege Mwaura informing him that the party had made changes to its leadership.

This was after minority leader Elias Okumu and minority whip Peter Imwatok went against a party call not to effect changes to its committee membership.

The two were replaced by Mr Mbadi and their places respectively taken over by Highrise MCA Kennedy Odhiambo Oyugi and Lower Savanna's Nicholas Ouma Okumu.

However, party Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen wrote to Mr Chege informing him that the status quo should be maintained as the party follows its own mechanism to arbitrate the matter.

The acting speaker also rejected the changes terming them "null and avoid" and saying the chairman did not follow the laid down procedure and standing orders.

“I am afraid I cannot act on your letter as is, unless the issues raised are sufficiently addressed."

PUBLIC OFFICE

However, the new leaders have also vowed to wrestle the minority leadership, saying they are in office legally and accusing Mr Chege of working with their opponents to keep them from office.

“We condemn the letter from the executive director. The changes made stand. We will exhaust institutional structures to get to the office, which is a public office,” said Mr Oyugi.

The old leaders insist they are going nowhere and that they will abide by the letter from Mr Ong’wen as they wait for communication from the party.

“We will not allow the assembly to go the Homa Bay and Kisumu ways. I will write to the party to know the allegations against me, shed light and dissuade them from the lies being peddled by MCAs,” said Mr Imwatok.

SECOND LETTER

On Monday, the National Assembly minority leader wrote another letter to Mr Chege informing him that his latest letter, dated November 5, overrides any other communication from the party.

Mr Mbadi explained that as previously reiterated, the decision by the party emanated from a request by members, which was endorsed after deliberations in compliance with ODM's constitution.

“As the party continues with its internal resolutions to reconcile our MCAs, I confirm that the leader of minority and minority whip as designated by the party are Kennedy Odhiambo Oyugi and Nicholas Ouma Okumu respectively, unless advised otherwise. The party expects the decision to be effected immediately,” he said in the letter.

Mr Mbadi has, however, said the MCAs have been summoned to a meeting with Mr Odinga on Thursday to end the wars at the assembly.

“The letters have gone out to the MCAs notifying them of a meeting. The matter is set to be arbitrated this week in a bid to bring together the two groups,” he said.

The legislator added that his letter is a temporary measure before the matter is finally settled after the confusion caused by the letter by Mr Ong’wen.

“This is to clear the air so that the confusion does not continue. The overriding communication will come after the meeting. It can decide that Okumu remains minority leader, [or settle for Oyugi or another MCA," he said.