Confusion as Mbadi, Obura opt out of race for top ODM seat

By JAMES OMORO

MIGORI, KENYA: The abrupt withdrawal of two contenders from the race for the ODM secretary general’s post has left their supporters in surprise.

Their bowing out also sparked a sense of relief among their colleagues.

Suba MP John Mbadi and his Kisumu Central counterpart Ken Obura opted out of the battle just as observers felt they stood better chances of securing the position.

They had formed campaign camps comprising fellow MPs within the Orange Party. Their candidature had created tension in ODM as residents of Nyanza were worried that ODM was on the verge of being polarised.

The two said their withdrawal was to ensure there is unity in ODM.

Just a few days before their withdrawal, controversy rocked the party following complaints by a group of young MPs that Mbadi and Obura’s candidature was being compromised.

During the burial of Neto’s stepmother Dina Owuor in Ndhiwa, seven MPs from Luo Nyanza expressed dissatisfaction with some of their colleagues and party members whom they accused of sabotaging their endeavours to contest the seat.

They put it in the public domain that there were some politicians in the party who were out to campaign against those who wanted to contest for secretary general’s post from the area.

They accused their colleagues from Nyanza of campaigning against them in favour of candidates from other regions.

They had argued that their colleagues who were against them were doing so because the party leader Raila Odinga stood higher chances of retaining his position hence the party would look tribal if the secretary general also hailed from Nyanza.

However, Silvance Osele Onyango, Kabondo Kasipul MP argued that everybody needed to be given the opportunity to contest seats of their desire regardless of their ethnic background.

Among senior ODM members who came out in public to oppose the Nyanza MPs’ candidature is Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’.

 During public gatherings, Kajwang’ argued that the position of the party secretary general should not go to Nyanza region.

He said if the ODM party leader comes from Nyanza, then the post of secretary general should go to someone  from a different region to give the party a national outlook.