Details of Raila's ODM Meeting Amid Cracks and Rebellion

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua during Azimio PG on September 16, 2022.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua during Azimio PG on September 16, 2022.
Twitter
Raila Odinga

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Odinga has convened a crisis meeting to address the simmering fallout among his lieutenants. 

Media reports indicated that part of the agenda of the meeting will be proposing names of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons for the House committees. 

During the meeting, the leaders will also agree on the way forward after the Supreme Court verdict that upheld President William Ruto's victory.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shaking hands with Azimio legislators on September 16, 2022.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shaking hands with Azimio legislators on September 16, 2022.
Twitter
Raila Odinga

Speaking to the media, ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen affirmed that the meeting was originally slated for Friday, September 23, but was postponed to next week over the ongoing induction of lawmakers in Nairobi and senators in Naivasha.

He added that the decision was made by the party leadership. 

“I’m an implementer. When the leadership says it has to be pushed back, mine is to implement,” Ong'wen told Nation.Africa

Raila's decision to call for a crisis meeting was received with mixed reactions with politicians from the Kenya Kwanza coalition urging the Azimio coalition to count its losses and move forward to the next agenda. 

" (They should) Ask how they are going to join the winners and together build a country, add value where they can and make it possible for Kenyans to live a better life in the next five years."

"The competition will come again in 2027 but this time it was decided by the people and Judiciary on who won the elections," Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi stated in an interview with Citizen TV. 

ODM Chairman John Mbadi had initially voiced his frustrations over being snubbed for the Majority Leader position in the National Assembly. 

Pressure also piled on Raila from a section of ODM MPs to rescind the Wandayi decision- arguing that Mbadi is the right fit for the role. 

Mbadi, who believes he's the senior most ODM politician, claimed that he was the most suitable pick for the Majority leader. 

"Someone must explain to me why I am being bypassed and Wandayi is supposed to be the leader and yet I'm the chairman. Unless it's a vote of no confidence on the position of the chair. How then would have Wandayi, who is my junior, lead me in the national assembly? It does not make sense unless I surrender the position of chairmanship."

Other politicians, however, intimated that the matter is not designated for ODM politicians alone but Azimio in general. 

According to Mbadi, he had dropped his gubernatorial bid, for Homa Bay County, for the designated seat.

Nominted MP John Mbadi (left) speaks to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Nominated MP John Mbadi (left) speaks to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
File