By Anderson Ojwang’
A storm over the ‘ownership’ of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is turning out to be the main debate in the country’s political landscape after the death of the founder, Raila Amolo Odinga.
The debate over the ownership of ODM is gaining momentum, with Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and Economic Planning declaring that the party does not belong to a particular family or community.
Similarly, Mbadi stated that the discussion on the party’s progress should not be tailored to what Raila said because he was no longer there to confirm or deny the attributes.
This is against the previous notion and belief that ODM was a ‘property’ of the Odinga family under the grip control of Raila.
“This is a national party. ODM does not belong to the Luo community. It does not belong to Siaya where the governor (James Orengo) is trying to fight with the senator, Dr Oburu Oginga. It does not belong to a family,” he said.
But Kisumu Women Representative, Ms Ruth Odinga, has accused Mbadi of being ungrateful and disrespectful to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family.
Ms Odinga claimed it was unfortunate for Mbadi to have made unsavory remarks about the family and that she will not allow the Cabinet Secretary to undermine the family.
“I was surprised that when Mbadi rose to speak, he chose to attack me, as an Odinga. He said ODM Party does not belong to the Odingas. That it is not a family property and therefore nobody should feel entitled because they carry the Odinga name,” she wrote.
“Mbadi now thinks that because my brother Raila Amolo Odinga is dead, he can now trample on our family. I am prepared and ready to face off with Mbadi,” she said in a telephone interview.
Transition
Mbadi said it was important for the party leadership and members to manage the post-Raila transition and to steer the party to greater heights.
Mbadi also took a swipe at Ruth Odinga, saying she cannot bully anyone in the party just because she is the sister of the party leader.
“We have a party where one thinks she is a sister of a party leader, she can order us around. You cannot. I know Baba has been a very solid leader. We must manage the transition,” he said.
Mbadi said Raila was no more and that members must chart the way forward without having to rely on what Raila said or did not say.
“Baba is no more. This is the post-Raila era. We must be candid and forthright and chart the way forward. You cannot keep telling us ‘Baba said this’ and ‘Baba did not say this.’ Where is that Baba now to give us evidence whether he said this or he did not say? He is not there anymore,” he said.
Ruth said Mbadi was a beneficiary of the Odingas’ struggle and has no locus standi to disrespect and disregard the family.
“Mbadi stated further that Raila Odinga was already dead and buried, and even if he was to be alive, he wouldn’t do much because he (Mbadi) and others have heavily invested in the ODM Party. I say this was a personal attack because I looked around and I was the only Odinga in the room. My brother, the Party Leader Dr Oburu Oginga, did not attend the three-day retreat,” she said.
She said Mbadi was a creation of the Odinga family and his statements were unfortunate and unpalatable.
“Who is Mbadi without the Odingas? We babied him, from MP to party chairman and now Cabinet Secretary. He should tread carefully. Mbadi must know and respect how he got to the top,” she said.
The Kisumu Women Rep said Mbadi has never been in the struggle and must respect the sacrifice the Odingas made for the country and the ODM party.
Respect
Mbadi demanded respect from Ruth Odinga for the ODM leadership and said she must stop fence-sitting over allegiance to either Linda Ground or Linda Mwananchi.
“It’s six months. He is not there anymore. Baba did a lot for us. If you are Baba’s sister, please respect us. If it was not for us, Baba would not be the person he was until his death. It is your brother who is the party leader. Gladys Wanga is the national chairman, and Simba Arati and Abdulsamad Nassir are the deputy party leaders. Hi maneno ya kumbelezana itaharibu hii chama. I am speaking to you with love. Without this party, we are weakened. It is difficult for a weaker party to win. I spoke with love. I am here. I am ready for any assignment you give me. I am the mtu wa mkono. We are the people supporting ODM,” he said.
She expressed concern over Mbadi’s move to demonize the Odinga family while for decades he relied on Raila for his election.
“But I was worried that if someone like John Mbadi can choose to demonize the Odinga name and what Odingas stood for and still do, what would anyone else think of us? I, as an Odinga by biology and also ideological Odinga, believing in what Jaramogi and Raila stood for, cannot sit pretty and allow this to pass without setting the records straight. It is evidently clear that there are some elements within the ODM Party who think that some of us ‘entitled people’ have been clinging to the Odinga name for political survival,” she said.
The battle between Mbadi and Ruth is just the tip of the iceberg of the wider battle in the party, and it is only a matter of time before the party finally witnesses a major breakaway within the Linda Ground faction.
