By Anderson Ojwang
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson Gladys Wanga and the party Director of Elections could be the first casualties in the post–Raila Amolo Odinga realignment.
In a move aimed at stabilising and ending the wrangles and divisions in the party, plans to sacrifice the two close allies of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are said to be in top gear and could be effected sooner than expected.
After acrimonious and tumultuous moments that have rocked the party following the demise of the party leader, sources have revealed to The Western Insight that various high-level meetings have agreed to stem the fallout and possible death of the party by restructuring its leadership.
Insiders told Western Insight that Wanga, the Homa Bay Governor, is likely to be replaced by Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who is the Deputy Party Leader.
Wanga and Arati were recently on a joint campaign to meet ODM delegates in the North Rift, in a move believed to be strategic in positioning themselves for party leadership ahead of the future National Delegates Conference.
Arati is, however, likely to be replaced by Winnie Odinga, the last-born daughter of Raila, in a move aimed at bringing youth into leadership and creating generational continuity.
Junet’s post as Director of Elections is likely to go to the Coast region or Nairobi in a new power arrangement matrix. Several names have been proposed for the powerful post.
Insiders also revealed that Wanga and Junet could be sacrificed to ensure the party remains cohesive and to avoid any fallout.
The insiders further said that some members of the party hierarchy were unhappy with the manner in which the 2022 presidential campaigns were handled by the Secretary General of the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, Junet, who was recently accused by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of having squandered agents’ funds meant for Central Kenya.
However, Junet denied having misappropriated the agents’ funds and instead apportioned the blame to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly releasing the funds to his brother, Muhoho Kenyatta.
Yesterday, Junet visited party leader Oburu Odinga, with ODM posting on its X handle: “Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed this morning visited party leader Dr Oburu Odinga at his office in Nairobi. They deliberated on matters relating to the party, its growth, as well as the state of politics in the country.”
Last week, Makadara MP George Aladwa asked the party to appoint Winnie as one of the Deputy Party Leaders to represent Nairobi following the demise of Raila.
“Mimi nilikuwa nimependekeza hapo awali tukielekea NDC, kwa sababu Raila Odinga alikuwa delegate wa Nairobi, Winnie Odinga aingie hapo awe delegate wa Nairobi, na tupropose deputy party leaders wanne, Winnie akiwa mmoja wao, (I had proposed earlier, as we head to the NDC, that because Raila Odinga was a Nairobi delegate, Winnie Odinga should come in as a Nairobi delegate, and that we propose four deputy party leaders, with Winnie being one of them),” Aladwa said.
On Wednesday, Oburu held a discussion with Sifuna at his office, describing him as espousing the party’s democratic ideals.
“I met with my friend, Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General of the ODM Party, this morning. He remains a sober and principled voice, embodying the democratic ideals we believe in as a party,” he wrote on his X handle.
“We are one. We are united as the ODM Party,” he added.
Mama Ida Odinga on Wednesday urged the party leadership not to kill ODM, but to prioritise dialogue over wrangles and to preserve Raila’s legacy.
“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honour as a matter of service to our country. I want to appeal to those Baba left in the leadership of the party to reflect deeply and sincerely on his dreams for the party and for our country,” she said.
Ida said Raila always consulted widely on party matters, which provided room to find solutions to any emerging disputes.
“Baba had a love for ODM. Baba ran ODM with dedication, firm and fair hands. Raila ran ODM on the principle of constant consultations and always referring to the people,” she said.
Ida challenged the current leaders in the party to give dialogue a chance and to follow Raila’s footsteps in resolving disputes within the party.
“Let us solve the problems of the party by always asking ourselves, what would Baba do under these circumstances?”
Recently, a section of ODM legislators, alarmed by self-cannibalisation within the party, requested Oburu to convene an urgent party meeting to contain what they termed a self-destruct situation.
The MPs, led by ODM Vice National Chairman Dr Otiende Amolo, said the wrangles within the party were worrying and amounted to a betrayal of the party’s founder and leader, the late Raila Odinga.
They said ODM was the largest party in the country and expressed concern over the spectacle of self-cannibalisation that has been exhibited of late.
“It is testament to how much we miss the wisdom and iconic leadership of our departed Rt Hon Raila Odinga that divisive rhetoric has taken over our politics without restraint,” read part of the statement.
