Raila Odinga moves to stem fallout as Ababu Namwamba accused of abdicating role

ODM leader Raila Odinga and party Secretary General Ababu Namwamba at a past event. Raila is understood to have pressed Secretary General Ababu Namwamba to explain why he had  absconded party duties. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

ODM party leader Raila Odinga battled to quell the rebellion in the party during the first meeting since  the revolt was sparked by seven Western MPs.

Raila is understood to have pressed Secretary General Ababu Namwamba to explain why he had  absconded party duties.

He also criticised the action by the rebels to ignore party structures and instead publicly air their grievances.

Namwamba reportedly complained about being undermined, and cited Siaya Senator James Orengo’s utterances at a recent Busia rally that sought to portray the Budalang’I MP as one who had been compromised.

The Orange Democratic Movement central management committee gave disgruntled members two weeks to forward their grievances, which was interpreted to target even rebels from the Coast region.

ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday pressed party secretary general Ababu Namwamba on concerns he had abdicated his duties.

During the first party meeting since a rebellion was sparked in the party by six western MPs, Raila is said to have been unhappy with the leaders for raising party-related complaints in public.

Multiple sources that attended the meeting of the Central Management Committee said Raila put his party's secretary general to task for absconding his duties at Orange House.

Raila is also said to have taken issue with some senior party officials for frustrating Namwamba.

Last week, Namwamba and ODM vice chairman Paul Otuoma led a group of five MPs from the region in castigating the party leader and chairman John Mbadi for undermining them by visiting their constituencies without informing them.

The MPs also said the party had frustrated initiatives by Namwamba to rejuvenate the party and warned they would be forced to consider other options if the party did not pay attention to their grievances.

And in a five-hour meeting at Orange House meant to heal the rift, the committee gave disgruntled members two weeks within which to present their grievances for redress.

The committee chaired by Raila and in charge of the day-to-day management of the party affairs yesterday agreed that there were underlying issues raised by its secretary general and the five Western MPs.

According to a source, some members criticised the manner in which the team went to argue their case in the media and not through the laid-down party structures.

The officials were of the opinion that Namwamba and the disgruntled MPs should have channeled their grievances through the established party structures.

Raila is said to have told Namwamba that he had his blessings and should play his role as the secretary general and to avoid any unnecessary wrangles that could undermine the party.

"This is not the time for quarreling, the elections are around the corner. That is not the way to go," Raila reportedly said.

Namwamba is said to have defended himself, protesting that the concerns raised by western MPs had been narrowed down to him with some party members directly attacking him.

He is said to have stood his ground and defended his position that there was no way he would have presented the matter to those being accused of frustrating his work plan.

The source added that Namwamba in particular raised concern over the claim by Siaya Senator James Orengo, during a meeting in Busia, that he (Namwamba) could have been auctioned to their rivals.

He also denied deserting his duties as the secretary general of the Orange party.

And at the press briefing, Namwamba who read the statement on behalf of the party, said the meeting was looking into the composition of Parliamentary Select Committees.

He however stated that they will meet in two weeks to iron out any emerging issues in the party.

"Today we were meeting to look into the internal issues of the party. The issues are in the public domain and without pre-empting, it is sufficient to say we have put in place a framework to handle the emerging issues," said Namwamba.

"When issues are raised to strengthen the party, then that is not being disgruntled. We want the party strengthened," he maintained.

Mbadi noted the party constitution had given enormous powers to the office of the secretary general and that of the chairman and that nobody can purport to frustrate bearers of these offices.

"The constitution has given immense powers to the SG and the chairman to an extent that they cannot be frustrated. Instead, the office bearers, if they decided, can frustrate others. But the SG and I have the responsibility of serving," said Mbadi.

The closed-door meeting that lasted three hours was attended by three party officials and vice chairmen Josephat Nanok, Otuoma and John Waluke, an NEC member.

Others were National Treasurer Timothy Bosire, Women Leader Beth Syeng'o, Youth Leader John Ketora and National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo.