No truce in ODM as Ababu Namwamba weighs political options

By Ignatius Odanga and Grace Wekesa | 8yrs ago

ODM leader Raila Odinga with Secretary General Ababu Namwamba. Days after ODM leader Raila Odinga held a meeting to quell discontent in the party, there are signs Secretary General Ababu Namwamba could be on his way out. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Days after ODM leader Raila Odinga held a meeting to quell discontent in the party, there are signs Secretary General Ababu Namwamba could be on his way out.

On Friday, Mr Namwamba told Busia residents that he would soon declare his next political direction.

“Very soon I will open my heart to Busia residents. I will tell you the direction my allies and I shall follow politically. I hope when that time comes you will all accept and support me,” he said.

And this came as disgruntled CORD MPs from Western admitted that they had spelt out two key demands to the Jubilee administration, before they work together.

Namwamba, who is also the Budalang’i MP, had told The Standard on Sunday that none of the issues the MPs had raised was discussed in the meeting with Raila.

“Nine leaders raised weighty issues about the state of ODM, we are above being lectured, intimidated or dressed down by anybody. We are the aggrieved party in this matter... Issues raised by the nine MPs were not listed as part of the agenda. Seventy per cent of the Central Management Committee (CMC) discussions centred on IEBC,” he said.

The embattled party secretary general and vice chairman and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma disputed reports that the party leadership gave the MPs two weeks ultimatum to toe the line.

“In any case if there was anyone to be dressed down, it would be those who shamelessly lie through their teeth and malign people with cheap drivel. Those who are killing the party with their cheap baseless propaganda. It is this kind of dishonesty and juvenile posturing that poisons relations and makes it difficult to engage,” he said.

However, Namwamba disclosed that Raila struck a reconciliatory tone during the meeting on Wednesday. “The party leader was very reconciliatory. Before that meeting, Raila had asked for a separate meeting to solve the issues,” said the Budalang’i MP.

Otuoma said: “How do you give ultimatums in matters that have not been discussed?”

National Executive Council member and Sirisia MP John Waluke said they would be meeting with Raila in a fortnight to discuss their concerns.

“Which two weeks are people talking about? We were never given any ultimatum. We are the ones (Ababu, Otuoma and Waluke) who proposed for a meeting with Raila in two weeks,” he said.

During the CMC meeting only the three MPs attended. Nine MPs from western had accused ODM chairman John Mbadi of undermining them.

And as ODM battles internal rebellion, Jubilee has sanctioned Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa to consolidate support in Western. Mr Wamalwa and a team of elected leaders are laying down plans to ensure Jubilee presence in the region is felt.

The CS has been meeting lawmakers allied to Jubilee and CORD in the political drive.

“We want everyone to come on board so that we can ensure that Jubilee gets enormous support in Western next year,” said Wamalwa.

He added: “We managed to win in 2013 when were not in power, do you think we will be defeated by anybody now that we are in power?”

And in a surprising move, Mr Waluke said discussions are ongoing between Jubilee and CORD leaders from Western to see how a political deal can be inked.

“Let’s stop this speculation, we are in discussion with Jubilee. As leaders from western Kenya, we have put two demands on the table. We want the position of National Assembly Speaker and Nairobi Governor. Wamalwa and Namwamba are our candidates for the said positions. We have been meeting daily with representatives of Jubilee to agree on a few other things as well. CORD will have to make do with the fact that Western is on the move, Jubilee is the way to go because we all can’t be president and deputy president at the same time. We therefore must support the government of the day. We also hope Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula will realise this and jump into the ship that has taken off,” he said.

Reached for comment, Namwamba said he was not involved in such a discussion neither is he aware that conversation is ongoing.

After the burial of brother to Matungu MP David Were in Lubanga yesterday, at least 18 Jubilee friendly MPs and CS Wamalwa were scheduled to meet at a hotel in Kakamega town to strategise on how the ruling coalition will penetrate the region.

“We have been meeting and we are meeting again on Wednesday. I want to tell you that Western people are able to compare current and previous governments including the grand coalition government. After carefully evaluating their future within CORD, the people of western have resolved to exit CORD. Wamalwa is the leader of the exiting brigade, it’s a mass movement. The results will shock the CORD leadership,” Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali.

Over 150 TNA aspirants for different seats who met at the Bishop Stam in Kakamega County on Wednesday unanimously agreed to unite before and after nominations to avert fallout.