After some last-minute maneuvering, Homa Bay Governor Glady’s Wanga was named chairwoman of the opposition party and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement introduced a new deputy party head position.
To ease mounting tensions, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced fresh appointments that made Raila’s deputies: Governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir (Mombasa), as well as Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
“The Central Committee has put out three names for Deputy Party Leader, as you may have noticed. In a news release, Sifuna stated that the party stances had drawn a great deal of interest. “We will be making a recommendation to the National Executive Council and the National Governing Council to make the necessary changes to our constitution to reflect this,” she said.
Hassan Joho, the cabinet secretary for mining, and Wycliffe Oparanya, the cabinet secretary for cooperatives, recently left their positions as ODM’s two deputy party leaders. Wanga took over as National Treasury Cabinet Secretary after John Mbadi. Wanga’s appointment was recently pushed for by a few ODM female lawmakers in order to meet gender equity rules.
Yesterday, at the party’s Central Management Committee meeting, Kisumu West Member of Parliament replaced Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi as secretary for political affairs. The media was informed by sources that early attempts were made to weaken the role and add three new deputy leaders in order to appease different areas. Members from Raila’s hometown of Nyanza apparently made the call because they believed they had a better claim to the party.
“They want a ‘pentagon’ at the top,” an anonymous insider revealed, outlining Raila’s intention to appoint five deputies. Raila is anticipated to relinquish power in order to run for the head of the African Union Commission (AUC). The afternoon meeting was hosted by Raila, who left momentarily to meet with Fawzia Yusuf Adam, the former minister of foreign affairs of Somalia who had recently withdrawn her ambition to lead the AUC. Politician Jimi Wanjigi’s house would also be visited by Raila, who claimed that Adam had backed his AUC candidacy.
In other changes, Raila’s sister Ruth Odinga, who is also the Kisumu Women Representative, is designated deputy organising secretary, and parliamentarians John Ariko (Turkana South) and Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) assume the roles of vice chairpersons.
Rahab Robi has been named the secretary for publicity and information, and Kajiado East MP Kakuta Maimai has been named the new secretary for special programs and social welfare.
