Proposed party list sparks fresh fallout in Raila Odinga's ODM

The proposed list of new officials in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has opened a new battlefront after some close allies of party leader Raila Odinga rejected it.

Yesterday, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Funyula MP Francis Otuoma, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Busia County Woman Representative Florence Mutua and former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim met in Nairobi and vowed to ensure the proposed appointments were nullified.

Controversial former ODM campaign manager Eliud Owalo was also present at the meeting in a Nairobi hotel where the disgruntled members perceived to be Raila's close confidantes plotted how to counter the list that saw most newcomers in the party proposed for top positions.

Although Mr Orengo said they had only met "for lunch" at the Norfolk Hotel, his colleagues openly spoke out about the agenda of the meeting, saying they were outraged by the list unveiled on Sunday at the party's retreat in Gilgil.

Among them, only Mr Otuoma was picked as the second deputy chairman but he, too, rejected the seat and warned Raila that he had pressed ODM's self-destruct button by handpicking national officials instead of conducting competitive elections. 

Among the options the disgruntled leaders hinted at include rallying members to shoot down the proposed names during the party's National Governing Council (NGC) meeting slated for December 5.

The NGC had been planned for November 28 but was pushed forward because of Senator Otieno Kajwang's burial.

They insisted they would resist handpicked names and preferred party members to elect their own officials through popular means.

As a sign of major rifts in the party, the leaders skipped a major press conference called by the party at Orange House to address insecurity in the country.

Mr Maalim told The Standard they were "very outraged and unhappy" with the list of party leaders proposed by Raila and revealed they were exploring ways to counter the move. He added that discussions were ongoing to agree on the way forward.

"We do not want to reveal much of what we discussed, but be sure we are planning major moves to counter what has been thrown at us," Maalim said.

An angry Otuoma dismissed the list, saying the era of boardroom appointments was long gone and such crucial party decisions should be made by the majority of party members.

MASS APPEAL

"We will not accept somebody bringing us lists. There are no sacred cows in ODM. We insist that party leaders are selected by party members. The interests of the majority of party members should be safeguarded," he said.

Mr Junet said they were looking to challenge the proposed list when it comes for debate at the NGC meeting.

"It is not over until it is over. We are preparing for the NGC to which we are all members. We will not agree for this party to be hijacked by certain personalities. This party enjoys mass appeal and should not be reduced to a boardroom party," Junet said.

Asked to address party issues, Orengo declined, only saying, "We met for lunch and we will be meeting for more lunches in the coming days."

Yesterday, ODM, perhaps in response to rising discontent about the list, released a statement explaining that it was subject to approval by the party's NGC.

In a statement to newsrooms, the party through its Communications Director Philp Etale explained that the list of officials released on Sunday was not final.

"It is important for the ODM members, supporters and the general public to note that the party's constitution states that any recommendations by the National Executive Committee (NEC) must be forwarded to the National Governing Council for approval or rejection on 5th December," read part of the statement.

"The proposed list of party national officials was as a result of extensive consultations among the members of the NEC and the Transitional Independent Executive Committee (TIEC) in a meeting that was chaired by party leader Raila Odinga," the statement added.

However, the party top brass maintained the list was arrived at after fruitful consultations. "We reached a compromise before this list was forwarded to the media. This is the list that will be presented to the NGC for further deliberations then a decision made," stated the statement.

MOVE LAUDED

Senator Elizabeth Ongoro described the compromise as a sign of mature leadership in the party to unite different factions.

"Really, this was a give-and-take scenario, where everyone has been accommodated pending ratification by NGC," she said.

The Political Affairs Secretary-designate, Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), also lauded the party's move to entrust its leadership to young leaders, affirming that this demonstrated Raila's astuteness and prowess as a political strategist.

"I fully support the new list of ODM officials unveiled by the party leader on Saturday. By the stroke of a pen, he has managed to bring the party back on track by accommodating the diverse and competing interests from within," he explained.

Mr Wandayi, who is a member of the rapid response team formed to rein in perceived 'rebels', backed Raila's decision, saying as a big movement, ODM may not be able to accommodate every member in its top-most decision-making body.

"Naturally, being a big movement, not everybody will be in the top leadership. So, it behoves all patriotic and loyal members of the movement to rally behind the new team to move forward. Past differences, if any, must now be buried for the good of the movement as we embark on a journey to capture State power in the next General Election," he said.

Wandayi urged all party members who, for one reason or another, might have been drifting away to come back to the fold and help strengthen the movement to deliver a decisive victory in the next elections.

But even as the leaders praised the proposed new changes, The Standard can reliably report that there was a lot of ground ceded to come up with the leadership list.

For instance, Raila sent his emissaries to talk to Ababu Namwamba and Kennedy Butiko before reaching a compromise.

Governor Josphat Nanok (Turkana) and Adan Keynan (Eldas) proposed Namwamba as Secretary General and John Mbadi (Suba) as chairman.

There were reports of numerous secret meetings Raila held at Maseno Club, and in Busia and Bungoma.

"The former PM decided to make his own inquires and investigations without relying on his allies. And for a regional balancing act to prevent a fallout, additional positions were created," said a close confidant of Raila, who attended the Naivasha meeting but asked not to be named.