The controversy surrounding ODM party leadership at the Nairobi County Assembly has taken a new twist after a Tuesday morning meeting at Park Place hotel in Nairobi.
The meeting held jointly by Nairobi ODM MCAs and the Central Committee of the Party ironed out differences that nearly saw the minority leader and minority whip replaced.
"During the meeting, we resolved that the Minority Leadership of the house be retained as is with Peter Imwatok as Minority Whip and Elias Otieno as Minority Leader," ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced in a statement.
The leaders have also endeavoured to ensure that the various committee memberships be are harmonised within the next one week so as to ensure equity and tame infighting at the assembly.
Last month, ODM Chairman John Mbadi announced having replaced Imwatok and Otieno with Kennedy Oyugi and Nicholas Okumu as minority leader and minority whip. Mbadi wanted the speaker to ensure the changes were effected immediately.
This directive flopped as the county speaker wrote to the party saying due process had not been followed in making the changes.
A number of Nairobi ODM MPs, led by Simba Arati, were opposed to the move, accusing Mbadi of meddling in the city affairs.
Last week, party leader Raila Odinga called off a crisis meeting that had been slated for Thursday, November 8, after some members complained of having been informed late.
"Some of us received invites from the party Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen around 11 am today. We feel it was deliberate to lock out certain individuals from turning up for the meeting,” an MCA told the media on the postponement.
