By Abdikadir Sugow
Discontent is brewing in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over its restructuring process ahead of party national elections expected before the end of the year.
ODM has been rocked by dissenting voices following the appointment of a new Executive Director.
According to insiders, controversy emerged when former Assistant minister and MP Magerer Langat was given the position, with party members from the Western region expressing their anger.
The discord has reportedly made the party top brass to postpone its National Governing Council (NGC) scheduled for last Friday to July 26.
However, party Secretary-General Anyang’ Nyong’o dismissed claims of discontent saying the NGC was shelved due to logistical issues, adding that appointment of Mr Langat and other directors of ODM secretariat would be officially announced “at the appropriate time.”
“Mark my words. I am the only person authorised to make any announcement. Please wait for the appropriate time,” Nyong’o told The Standard On Sunday.
A dispatch from ODM’s Director of Communications Philip Etale sent to newsrooms said Langat, the former Kipkelion MP, is the new executive director, taking over from Senator Janet Ong’era.
The recruiting team named by party leader, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, also appointed Nabii Nabwera as director in-charge of policy and strategy, Caesar Asiyo, to head operations and Rosemary Kariuki to be responsible for party membership services.
Well placed sources say Western and Coast party supporters expected a candidate from their regions to be picked as the new executive director, with reports that Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and former minister and Westlands MP Fred Gumo have allegedly registered their dissatisfaction.
Some ODM members argue that Langat will not add any value to the party going by the last General Election results in the Rift Valley Province where lost support to Deputy President William Ruto’s United Republican Party.
They further said Rift Valley and Central regions do not offer any prospects for the party and appointment of Langat and Kariuki was ill advised.
The grievances are deep-seated and Raila has been challenged to quell the tension.
The sources claimed that some Western MPs are contemplating quitting ODM if a decision is not reached on the matter. One of the new appointees, a close aide to Raila, is alleged to have been instrumental in blocking party supporters from accessing the former PM.
It is further claimed that the human resources firm hired to recruit the new executive director had recommended party activist Mr Kennedy Butiko.
Butiko’s name was allegedly omitted in the official announcement, as speculation soared that former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende would be named as party chairman to balance the regional equation as he comes from Western, like Butiko and the other candidate for the executive director’s position Nabwera.
Outgoing ODM national youth leader Reuben Ombima confirmed there was friction and tension within the party, saying Marende “cannot be sandwiched between the true reformers and pretenders but number one enemies of the party.”
“Marende ought to meet with the people from Western and seek our advice before making any move. He was not consulted about the position (chairmanship) they are cooking for him,” said Ombima.
He said the former Speaker should consult and know which direction his people are heading to instead of accepting any appointment.
