Leaders defend PAC Chair Ababu Namwamba

The unsuccessful attempt to remove Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba as chairman of the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) continued to draw varied responses from Western region leaders.

Vihiga County assembly member Ben Ombima (nominated) said the scheme was hatched a long time ago by ODM hard-liners who have never wanted the party's secretary general position to go to Western region.

"MPs in PAC who are members of Ford Kenya and Wiper stood with Ababu, while ODM did not. This shows clearly what they were plotting," said Mr Ombima.

Ombima said calls by ODM Chairman John Mbadi for the disbandment of the committee are suspicious and confirm that there is political witch-hunt against Namwamba.

Ombima revealed that meetings of Western region leaders are already ongoing with the latest one being on Saturday evening in Vihiga.

Namwamba's issue is said to have been the main point of discussion at the meeting that was attended by a number of MCAs, MPs and ODM party officials from Vihiga County.

"We are watching keenly to see how our brothers in ODM are treating us before we take our next move," said Ombima who admitted that other outside forces are also involved.

He said the silence from MPs from the Luhya community over the matter is an indication that they are keenly observing how things are shaping up in the party.

Tangible evidence

Ombima accused some ODM leaders, who claim to be close allies of the party leader Raila Odinga, of tainting the name of the party using these internal wrangles.

Butere MP Andrew Toboso said no tangible evidence has been tabled incriminating Namwamba.

"This can be done out of political malice since Namwamba chairs a very political committee," said Toboso.

Nambale MP and PAC member John Bunyasi had stated that, there were definitely other factors at play but the issue of corruption was simply overplayed.

He claimed, Namwamba's problems have little to do with his ability to manage affairs at PAC but everything to do with political competition, within and without his party.

But his counterparts within CORD maintained that Namwamba's woes should not be mixed with politics or tribal inclinations.

Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir said Kenyans are good at putting a political and tribal angle to everything.

Mr Shabbir said Namwamba is ODM's secretary general and also Chairman of PAC and that the two positions are mutually exclusive.

His Kisumu West counterpart John Olago Aluoch said Namwamba's woes have nothing to do with ODM but operations of the PAC.