Raila Odinga allies dare Ababu Namwamba to quit ODM

The rebellion in ODM sparked by western Kenya MPs deepened after a lobby group dared Secretary General Ababu Namwamba to leave the party.

And Namwamba promptly claimed the group was being used to divert attention from a “serious national matter” raised by the nine lawmakers from the region, adding that he would instead confront the one who had sent them.

The group, dubbed ODM professionals and led by Nairobi lawyer Edwin Sifuna and ODM Nairobi branch chairman George Aladwa, told Namwamba he was free to defect, adding that the Luhya community was well represented in the party.

Mr Aladwa said there were a number of Luhya leaders and other able professionals who would take up his position immediately he leaves.

“We are not here to beg people who have decided to bolt out because of their selfish reasons. There are enough people to succeed him if he decides to leave,” said Aladwa.

Mr Sifuna said the party had settled on young and vibrant politicians such as governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Josephat Nanok (Turkana), as well as MPs Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Abdikadir Aden (Balambala) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) to lead the party in various key positions.

“The former Western Province was lucky to get the position of deputy party leader in the name of Oparanya, vice chairman (Paul Otuoma), deputy organising secretary (Florence Mutua) and, above all, secretary general (Namwamba),” said Sifuna.

But Namwamba, who on Tuesday joined eight MPs from the Western region who accused ODM leadership of mismanaging the region’s interests and sidelining them in party affairs, claimed the “professionals” group was being used to reduce the grievances into an ethnic affair.

“Someone is desperately trying to reduce a serious national matter into a Luhya affair. It is a silly script they have perfected, of pitting one Luhya against another. I will not be ensnared into that tired trap. Party issues are not ethnic issues. I have no personal issues with any of these Luhya brothers being lined up to read statements crafted for them by characters we all know. I actually sympathise with anyone treated so condescendingly like a marionette. They say when a dog barks, confront the owner. I will deal with the owner,” Namwamba told The Standard when contacted for comment.

He added that the nine leaders had raised weighty issues about the state of ODM.

“It is juvenile to reduce issues raised by nine leaders to an Ababu matter. Man up and deal with the serious issues raised and stop the silly tribal sideshows. They make you look so desperate... and despicable,” said the Budalang’i MP.

On Wednesday, a day after the stinging criticism of the party’s leadership by the nine ODM MPs, party leader Raila Odinga met five of the lawmakers for closed-door talks at which he agreed to have a meeting with all the region’s branch chairmen.

The group, led by Shinyalu MP Silvance Anami, included Busia Woman Representative Mutua and her Vihiga counterpart Dorcas Kedogo, Matayos MP Godfrey Odanga and Lurambi MP Raphael Otaalo.

But the absence of Namwamba and party vice chairman Otuoma, who spoke out harshly about the party’s leadership, was conspicuous.

At yesterday’s Press conference in Nairobi, Sifuna said the region was well represented in CORD as ODM had also picked him as chairman of the National Appeals Tribunal on a need basis and there was a push to have Mr Norman Magaya to head the CORD secretariat. In addition, Philip Etale had been retained as ODM’s director of communications.

Sifuna accused Namwamba of failing to create a team out of the people he was given, and that he preferred to walk and work alone.

“He has failed to draw a clear line between himself and Jubilee Party and its leaders. Our secretary general has constantly flirted with the governing coalition to the confusion of our supporters,” said Sifuna.

The professionals also faulted Namwamba for failing to rally the party base in party activities, but instead choosing to invent one excuse after another.

Sifuna said they were shocked to see the former Sports minister dragging the entire Luhya community into his personal failings, and accusing fellow leaders of undermining his leadership.

“Ababu needs to be told in clear terms that one cannot undermine a leadership that does not exist. Ababu is an absentee leader in ODM. His heart is not in it. It is time for him to leave,” added Sifuna.