ODM rebels face ouster hardly a year in office

Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The clamour to oust leaders perceived to be rebels from political seats in Nyanza has begun in earnest.

This is happening barely a year after elections when leaders should be focusing on development and not polls.

Gem and Suba South constituencies are witnessing the clamour more following claims that MPs Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Caroli Omondi (Suba South) have betrayed ODM leader Raila Odinga.

In Gem, several aspirants have already declared their intentions to kick out Odhiambo.

For several weeks, several aspirants and ODM leaders have been holding meetings to campaign against Odhiambo, who has maintained that he is still in the Orange party.

The move appears to be getting support from the ODM party that is keen to crack the whip on the perceived rebels and has embarked on an intense grassroots mobilisation to weaken them.

Two weeks ago, the Orange party brigade took the war to the doorstep of the Gem MP. The team was led by ODM national chairman John Mbadi, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Minority Leader in the National Parliament Opiyo Wandayi and a host of MPs and MCAs.

The leaders opened a new branch office in Wagai, abandoning another one in the same trading centre which is under the control of a faction aligned to Odhiambo.

Those lining up to remove Odhiambo include Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga, a Senate aspirant Julius Okinda as well as businessman Otieno Rading.

Wanga said he will lead in the collection of signatures to have Odhiambo recalled.

"After two years, we will take the signatures to Parliament to ensure that there is a fresh election in Gem," said Wanga.

Oburu said Odhiambo and other MPs who have embraced Kenya Kwanza were after their own selfish interests.

"Elisha is my friend but there is no friendship in politics. He has gone to Kenya Kwanza for his own selfish gains," claimed Oburu.

He told Odhiambo to forget about the Secretary General's ambition because he is working with the enemy of the party.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked the Gem lawmaker to exit the ODM party and seek fresh mandate in Kenya Kwanza.

Even though there have been attempts to kick out the renegades from the party, political analysts say it is an exercise in futility.

Salim Odeny, a political analyst, says any attempt to remove the MP from ODM will be met with attendant suits. "Even if the battle were to end next month, the question of threshold for expulsion will be an uphill task," said Odeny.

The supremacy battle between Wanga and Odhiambo has seen the duo trying to woo MCAs to support them.

Last week, Odhiambo met three MCAs from the constituency where they resolved to put aside political differences for the interest of the people of Gem.

Seth Baraka (East Gem), Brian Obiero (South Gem) and Silas Madingu (Central Gem) said the political differences were slowing development in the constituency.

"It is our people who are suffering when we are fighting. We are urging the MP to reach out to Orengo for purposes of unity," said Madingu.