Azimio gives nod to Junet, Millie for top House positions

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna addressing the media at Parliament on August 6, 2024, after the Azimio Parliamentary Group Meeting where they adopted the appointment of their leadership in parliament replacing those who were appointed to the cabinet. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Azimio Parliamentary Group has endorsed Suna East MP Junet Mohammed as National Assembly Minority Leader and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo as the Minority Whip. 

Speaking after the PG at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, Tuesday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna thanked the Azimio constituent parties for agreeing to have Junet assume the Minority Leader position and Odhiambo to take over as Minority Whip. 

“I would like to assure Azimio supporters that there is no disagreement among Azimio parties as alleged in the media over the positions of National Assembly Minority Leader and Minority Whip positions which have now gone to Junet Mohammed and Millie Odhiambo respectively,” said Sifuna. 

ODM leader Raila Odinga is under pressure as jostling for top party leadership positions intensifies with Azimio Women MPs joining the fray. 

Raila is in dilemma as his allies Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi angle for the two ODM deputy party leader positions. 

Women Members of Parliament have urged the ODM leader to consider Wanga for the deputy party leader position saying top organs in the outfit, including the Central Management Committee have failed to observe the two third gender rule. 

Kisumu Town East MP Rosa Buyu, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said that it was time to have a woman in the top party leadership. 

“As women leaders we are demanding changes in the top party leadership, which will see a woman hold at least one of the top leadership positions that is why we are supporting Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga as one of the Deputy Party Leaders,” said Buyu. 

Arati dispelled the notion that Raila had proposed him and Nassir to take over the deputy party leader positions held by former governors Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho who were nominated to Cabinet, during a meeting in Mombasa last week saying that they will be seeking the support of party members to secure the positions.

“I am ready to become the next deputy leader of ODM party where I am currently serving as the National Vice Chairman, I will be moving around the country seeking the support of party members to be elected in that position, I am not expecting to get it on a silver platter,” he said.

Osotsi said he was ready to make a stab at the deputy party leader position to replace Oparanya saying he had demonstrated unwavering loyalty and commitment to the party after a section of governors and MPs deserted Raila and ODM after the 2022 General Election.

“My elevation is likely to inject new blood in the party and excite the youth support at a time when the Western region is getting lethargic with the recycled ODM politicians in the area who have been accused of doing little to push for community interests,” he said.

On Monday evening Raila met ODM elected leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties following reports that he had ignored Gusii region in recent Cabinet nominations and House leadership changes. 

Present during the meeting were Kisii Governor Arati, ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire, Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni, MPs Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Cleve Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Patrick Osero (Borabu) and Nominated MP Irene Mayaka. 

The ODM leader defended himself on Cabinet nominations saying President William Ruto picked the two leaders from Luo Nyanza to join his broad-based government. 

“The Gusii region has always supported you, it would have been prudent for you to push for us to have at least one Cabinet position out of those allocated to our party, we have always stood with you and this is the least we expected from you,” said Kibagendi. 

The Kitutu Chache South MP told the meeting that he had declared interest in succeeding Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi as National Assembly Minority Leader. 

Osero said Gusii leaders are at explains to explain to the people why the region that overwhelmingly votes for Raila was left out in Cabinet nominations and parliamentary leadership positions. 

“Our people are asking why is it that during campaigns we are asked to support the ODM party but when it comes to sharing of positions we are left out, we do not know what we are going to tell our people when we go back home,” he said. 

Raila is said to have told the Gusii leaders that the party looked at a delicate regional balancing matrix before arriving at the current party leadership and asked the lawmakers to be patient since there are other goodies in store for them. 

The Nairobi meeting comes days after the Gusii politicians met to take a common position on the snub by the ODM leader on Cabinet and House leadership posts. 

Cabinet Secretary nominees John Mbadi (National Treasury), Wandayi (Energy) and Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs), Joho (Mining and Blue Economy) and Beatrice Askul (East African Community) got slots the courtesy of ODM. 

The Gusii leaders said President Ruto's decision to nominate Migosi Ogamba from Kisii county to the Education docket, is likely to give UDA an edge over ODM in the region.