Leaders allied to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are celebrating significant gains just a week after President William Ruto signed an agreement with their party leader.
To affirm their agreement, President Ruto and Raila signed a political pact between the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) signalling an endeavour to work together in a bid to unite the nation.
Following the signing, a number of ODM leaders have landed roles in powerful House Committees, signifying the seriousness of the agreement.
The big winners in ODM include:
- Samuel Atandi: Elected Chair of the Budget Committee.
- James Nyikal: New Chair of the Health Committee.
- Bernard Shinyali: Chair of the Trade Committee.
- Irene Mayaka: Chair of the Regional Integration Committee.
- Emmanuel Wangwe: Chair of the Public Investments Committee (PIC) on Social Service Administration and Agriculture.
- Eve Obara: Vice Chair of the Education Committee.
- Tindi Mwale: Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
- John Ariko Namoit: Vice Chair of the PIC on Energy and Commercial Affairs.
- Charles Ongondo Were: Vice Chair of the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee.
Atandi, who was the only contestant to have submitted his papers by the close of nominations, replaced Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro. MP Nyikal replaced Endebess MP Robert Pukose, who remains a member of the committee, while also assuming the role of Vice Chairperson in the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale was elected after a tight race between him and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo. Tindi garnered nine votes against Amollo's six votes.
To accommodate the ODM leaders, the Kenya Kwanza leaders sidelined leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
While the agreement between Ruto and Raila has been hailed by leaders allied to their parties, it has received criticism from those opposing the president.
During the signing, both Ruto and Raila maintained that they needed to put their differences aside and work as a team for the benefit of Kenyans.
The two leaders pointed out that Kenya holds great potential, but its progress has been held back by the shackles of ethnicity and state policies that exclude parts of the county from national development.
“For Kenya to realize its full potential, we must discard old superficial rivalries and embrace a unifying vision," the leaders noted.
