Orange Democratic Party (ODM) officials and members from Isiolo County came out on Tuesday to protest over what they believe to be the party leadership sidelining them in the sharing of cabinet and senior party positions.
The members pointed out in the recent appointments of cabinet secretaries put forward by ODM, the North Eastern region despite being a stronghold of the party was not considered.
The appointments saw Nominated MP John Mbadi, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and former governors, Wycliffe Opranya of Kakamega and Ali Hassan Joho of Mombasa nominated into Ruto’s cabinet.
Out of the 4 cabinet secretaries tapped by ODM to join President William Ruto's cabinet, none of the appointees hail from the Upper Eastern Region.
Led by their regional party leaders of the North Eastern region, the members further noted that the region was once again left out as ODM proposed new names to take up leadership positions in the political outfit.
Nonetheless, the members appreciated the proposal to have Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga as party chairperson citing it is a positive step towards achieving gender inclusion.
The representatives from North Eastern urged their party leader Raila Odinga to consider the region in future appointments both in the party and in the government.
"What we are asking as Isiolo County is to stop directing appointments in Nyanza and Coast. We want a representative here in Isiolo,” they asserted.
In their message to the party, they urged to be represented at the national office so that they can have a voice at the decision-making table.
This comes at a time when ODM leader Raila Odinga has been facing scrutiny for what many believe to be him joining government.
Several of his allies referenced by the ODM leaders from Isiolo were tapped to serve in President William Ruto's new-look broad-based government.
ODM members from Kisii region last week also complained about not being considered for a cabinet position.
