By Anderson Ojwang’
Last Thursday was a mixed grill for the broad-based government. For President William Ruto, it was a historic moment when he delivered a landmark address to the Nairobi City County Assembly.
But the absence of a top national official from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), with the majority of MCAs at the Assembly standing at 35 elected members, exposed the widening rift in the broad-based alliance and the Linda Ground faction of the party.
The City Hall address was historic and was the first time a sitting Head of State has spoken before a county assembly since the advent of devolution.
The address marked a significant shift in how the national government engages with county leadership. The ODM leadership had been invited to the occasion, and the party leader Dr Oburu Oginga had confirmed attendance.
But Oburu, who was away in the United Kingdom on official duty, delegated the party’s National Chairperson Gladys Wanga to represent him at the function.
However, sources told Western Insight that Wanga instead asked Makadara MP and branch chairman George Aladwa to represent the party leader while she visited Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Captain William Ruto at his Nakuru home to condole with the family.
Attempts to get comment from Wanga were unsuccessful after she did not respond to our call.
Wanga wrote on her social handles: “I visited Captain William Ruto, Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority, at his residence in Rongai Constituency, Nakuru County, to convey my heartfelt condolences following the tragic loss of his beloved daughter, Mitchell Jelimo Kemboi. I also extended my sincere wishes for his full recovery following his recent accident. Captain Ruto has been a steadfast friend to Homa Bay County, having visited on several occasions as the Kenya Ports Authority oversees the construction of the Homa Bay Pier. May God grant his family strength and comfort during this difficult time.”
Outside City Hall was teeming with thousands of ODM supporters in party colors and their United Democratic Alliance (UDA) counterparts to welcome the president and the party leader to the function.
Sources within the ODM Linda Ground are questioning why Wanga did not delegate one of the deputy party leaders for the function but instead chose Aladwa, diluting the importance of the event.
Aladwa wrote on his social media handle: “Today, as the ODM Chairman Nairobi, I accompanied H.E. President William Samoei Ruto to the Nairobi County Assembly where he delivered a keynote address. We remain committed to the Broad-Based approach in supporting the President’s agenda to transform Kenya.”
The Chief of Staff in the ODM party leader’s office, Mr Michael Agwanda, declined to comment on the matter.
Wanga has been present at most of President Ruto’s functions, and last year for the second year running, the president was the guest of honor during her Genowa county football tournament.
Recently, Rangwe MP Dr Lilian Gogo attacked Agwanda for representing Dr Oburu at the burial of the elder brother of ODM Executive Director Oduor Ongwen.
Gogo, who was in the company of Wanga, demanded the immediate sacking of the Chief of Staff.
“That show cause letter. I want it to be given to a son of Homa Bay. I don’t know whether he has gone? We can give the show cause letter. How can one represent the party leader as Chief of Staff while the MPs are here? How do you go to a function where the party chairperson is in attendance and you come here saying you want to represent the party leader? If it is for the joke, we will remove you from that office. I, Dr Lilian Achieng Gogo, have said it. We will remove you,” she said.
Oburu’s management skills
The sudden change in Dr Oburu’s management structure and office structure has brought disquiet within the party ranks.
Dr Oburu’s itinerary has also changed, and he is no longer attending the several unplanned functions he found himself in.
He currently prefers, in his free time, to play golf and spend time with his family, leaving several party officials disappointed.
At the party leader’s office in Riverside, appointments for meetings have become the order of the day, unlike during the time of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, when it was a walk-in and walk-out by party officials.
Dr Oburu meets people, including party officials, by appointment and has weeded out hangouts in his office.
At Riverside, there are no political hangouts and brokers, and there is total organization at the facility.
The ODM nominations
Tension is building in ODM with the insistence by the party leader that nominations must be free and fair.
Already, some top officials had started drawing their own lineups for the various elective posts, and this is bringing tension in the party.
Zoning of ODM strongholds
Wanga opened the taps of tears over what she termed as betrayal and lack of respect for ODM.
Visibly emotional and drained, Wanga used a handkerchief in her hand to wipe the tears as the public watched in disbelief and sympathized at the same time.
Wanga declared that ODM was the only inheritance left behind by the founder, the late Raila Odinga, and will defend it at all cost.
“This our party is what our party leader, the late Raila, left us. It is all we have. We will defend and protect our party. Defending our party comes number one before anything else. So we will defend our party, our people, and we will defend our areas. We will make sure that our parliamentary strength is not reduced by even an inch. Ok wane mumbo wala ei ot (We are not scared of darkness). No, no. It is our party. Weche modong wabiro wacho mbele ka wasebedo kod heshima e party ka (We will only discuss other business when respect exists),” she said.
Wanga said any discussion will only be applicable when ODM gets its respect and its political strongholds are respected and safeguarded from infiltration.
“Other things we will talk about, but we must first have respect for our party. Those other things will follow later. Because without the party, voters and the people, there is nowhere we are going, my people,” she said.
Over the weekend, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who recently defected to President William Ruto’s party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), claimed several ODM MPs from the region were crossing over to UDA and were participating in the party elections.
“Today, we are having several ODM MPs conducting UDA elections in their constituencies. We are a team and a force. You can see the number of ODM MPs crossing over to UDA,” he said.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed claimed that state machinery was being used to pressure ODM legislators – particularly from the Coast and Western regions – to defect to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
President Ruto and Oburu remain close, but a section of ODM is pulling away and may opt for other options.
