ODM's Homa Bay branch split as three sets of officials are 'elected'

Homa Bay County Woman Rep Gladys Wanga at ODM headquarters in Nairobi yesterday flanked by the party's Secretary For Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi and other party officials. Wanga was "elected" branch chairperson by one of the factions of the party in Homa Bay. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO]

Homabay, Kenya: Efforts by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's Homa Bay branch to fill positions left vacant, by the demise of Senator Otieno Kajwang' who was the branch chairman and vice chairperson Monica Amolo who also died last month, alongside other positions, are proving more divisive than unifying.

It turns out that after the election-related activities of the past weekend the branch is more divided.

Three meetings were held to elect new office holders which ended up with three sets of officials.

The party finds itself in a situation where it has three chair persons heading the same branch.

Some of the new officials were elected in absentia and ended up with two or more titles in the different factions.

Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga is chair in one faction, former Karachuonyo sub-branch chairman Tom Dola is chairman in another while former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo heads the third.

Last Saturday, Ms Wanga was allegedly elected the chairperson of the branch at a hotel in Homa Bay town.

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Speaking after being elected, Ms Wanga promised to unite ODM leaders and supporters in the county to ensure the party gets more votes in 2017 than it did in the last General election.

"I am going to work hand in hand with the branch and sub-branch officials so that we can start encouraging our people to acquire  Identity cards to enable them register as voters ahead of the next polls," Wanga said.

In the election, Kwabwai Ward Rep Richard Ogindo was elected vice chair while Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga was elected secretary.

Kabondo Kasipul MP Silvance Osele was elected the vice secretary as former councillor Okinyi Rao bagged the organising secretary position.

The post of treasurer went to Akeyo Omolo as George Omolo became the youth leader.

Other officials included Raphael Odongo (Asst Organising Secretary),Mary Ouma (Secretary for Women Affairs).

Homa Bay Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, George Mboya, Lawrence Gumbe and Dickens Nyaronyi became committee members.

 

Patrick Odwalo and Tom Dola were elected delegates while Esther Dualo and Pamela Okoth were elected to represent Special interest group.

But another faction also conducted a separate election where new office bearers were chosen albeit in acting capacity.

In the meeting that was convened at a different hotel in the town, Mr Dola was elected chairman.

The vice chair position went to Oscar Ouma, Mr Magwanga  was elected secretary, Mr Osele vice secretary, Okinyi organising secretary and Raphael Odongo deputy organising secretary.

Others were Orata (treasurer), Judith Omogi (deputy treasurer) Patricia Ouma (women affairs) and Kevin Onyango (youth affairs).

And Mr Ogindo also convened a meeting to criticise the other factions' elections saying they were conducted unconstitutionally.

Ogindo maintained that he is the chairman of ODM in the county.

"We are calling on the party headquarters to give direction over this matter," Ogindo said.

In his faction, Kasipul politician Ong'ondo Were is the vice chairman while Karachuonyo MP James Rege is secretary.

Osele said he accepted his post of the vice secretary and it was the responsibility of the party to iron out the matter in order to

give directions over the right faction.

"This thing was a refilling in but some people took it as an election. Each faction presented their list hence we are waiting for the party to decide which is which," said Osele.

Kaluma was present during the exercise where Tom Dola was elected the chairman and consented to the outcome but he dismissed any other election.

But Magwanga declined his post in all factions saying it was an illegality.

"Things must be done in a well structured and formal manner. I am not a party to any illegal leadership," he said.