Scramble for assembly Majority Leader divides MCAs and ODM officials in Homa Bay

ODM MCAs address journalists in the Homa Bay County Assembly premises on September 13, 2018. The MCAs want the party to give them freedom of making changes in their assembly leadership. [JAMES OMORO: STANDARD]

The scramble for the leader of majority post has created a rift between Homa Bay MCAs and ODM officials in the county.

The MCAs have had a protracted battle on who between Kanyadoto MCA Walter Muok and his Kwabwai counterpart Richard Ogindo is their leader of majority.

The battle started a month ago when a section of MCAs ousted Ogindo over alleged poor leadership and replaced him with Muok. The change of guard has seen the two former best friends turn to foes.

ODM cancelled the election and called another on September 6 which the party also postponed indefinately. MCAs allied to Muok went ahead and conducted the election.

ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen later wrote a letter dismissing the election. Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna also wrote letters to the MCAs who participated in the poll asking them to show cause on why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for going against will of the party.

The letter fuelled the wrangles after the MCAs defied it.

“We received the letters via WhatsApp. Let it be clear that the changes we made remain as we made them,” said Rusinga's Okuku Miregi.