Ababu Namwamba opposes push for more positions

By Bryan Tumwa

Kenya: Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has warned against the creation of new positions ahead of the forthcoming party elections.

While addressing the 322 delegates from Kakamega, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Busia counties, Namwamba’s campaign team vowed to oppose any moves to alter the party structure in the middle of campaigns.

He said the creation of new positions of two deputy party leaders, four vice chairmen and two organising secretaries would only create fractures within the party.

“Rules of the election should not be changed when the campaigns are already under way. Let us finish the game then discuss other matters after the contest. There are only 27 slots which are being contested, no more no less,” said Namwamba.

He cautioned delegates of the region against being baited with the position of chairman, insisting that the secretary general’s position was the heart of the party which should be given to an experienced politician.

“Like Mahatma Gandhi said, when you want to know my story look at my life. I have been tried and tested and I have proved my vigorous loyalty to the party. I don’t have a problem with Agnes Zani, but she has not been tried and tested. For Elizabeth Ongoro, she has been a national vice chairman yet she has not made much impact, why then give her the heart of the party to run,” posed Namwamba.

Delegates meet

His team, which was composed of Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok who is vying for the chairman’s position, outgoing Deputy Organising Secretary Reuben Ndolo, Busia Deputy Governor Kizito Wangalwa and Rosa Buyu, who is vying for the position of organising secretary, met the delegates in Kakamega town.

Nanok said the purpose of the party elections was not to fight each other as enemies but to build and strengthen the party.

He, however, warned that restructuring the party in the middle of elections would leave the party more divided after the elections.

“We are hearing that new positions will be created to accommodate other interests. This is what made (William) Ruto and (Musalia) Mudavadi to run out of the party,” said Nanok.

He also called for the release of the delegates list for inspection before the date of the voting. The Ababu team also proposed that each county be designated as a polling station in Kasarani to ensure that the election results are verifiable against the number of delegates from each.

Ms Buyu appealed to delegates from Western to ensure they observe the requirement of regional and gender balancing when voting.

She said Western region was bound to lose the Secretary General’s position if the delegates opted to vote in a person from the region as chairman or deputy party leader.