By Anderson Ojwang
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nomination for the Homa Bay Gubernatorial seat was marked by a cocktail of intrigues, uncertainty, manipulations, underhand deals, and anxiety.
While the party asked the aspirants to pay nomination fees and set date for the exercise, powerful forces lobbied behind the scenes to have the party give direct ticket to the only female aspirant for the seat.
The seat had attracted then ODM national chairperson Mr. John Mbadi, then Homa Bay women Representative Gladys Nyasuna Wanga, former gubernatorial aspirant Mr. Joseph Oyugi Magwanga, former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Odhiambo Kidero, former Homa Bay County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe and Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misore.
One evening at around 11.00pm, while on a campaign trail in Ndhiwa constituency, the land of his mother, then Homa Bay Gubernatorial aspirant, Mr. Mbadi received a telephone call.
The phone call was like an earthquake, it shocked and shook him altogether. The call left Mbadi in a near tears, mental break down and anguish,
He was left in tatters as his world came crushing down with the events unfolding so fast to comprehend.
The call that temporarily changed his political and career destinations, came from his party leader, Raila Amolo Odinga, with specific and clear instructions.
He took leave from his team to be alone in his car according to his aides and later drove back to his suba village, where he broke the news to the ten members of his inner campaign team.
The message was quite simple but very loaded, the party had settled on then Homa Bay women representative Gladys Wanga as the flag bearer in the 2022 contest.
Despite Mbadi being the party national chairperson, the dice were cast, and he was promised a cabinet slot should Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate win the elections.
Mbadi mounted one of the best campaigns and was among the three top contenders for the seat.
He exuded confidence in winning the contest, but the battle became a stillbirth after the decision was made.
Kidero declined to attend the meeting while the other aspirants grudgingly accepted the party directive that allowed Wanga to be the first woman governor from Western Kenya. She beat Kidero in the 2022 elections.
Mbadi later left for Nairobi where Raila met them with other aspirants to explain why they had settled on Wanga, and he was made to lead the Presidential campaign in Nyanza.
Mbadi later helped the party to mediate and resolve emerging nomination disputes and was subsequently nominated back to the parliament.
He embarked on a campaign to reclaim his Suba South parliamentary seat from the incumbent Karoli Omondi, but lady luck danced on his way after the formation of broad-based government where he was appointed Treasury cabinet secretary,
Former Nyakach MP Pollyns Ochieng Daima says Mbadi is on upward political trajectory and is now playing in the national league.
He says Mbadi political stature is on the rise and is seen as one of the rising community and national leaders capable of transforming the nation.
“At first the decision to ask Mbadi to step down for Wanga could have appeared bitter but God had his plan for him. Mbadi’s political graph is rising and as a community we look forward to him,” he says.
Nairobi based Consultant and analyst Mr. Baldin Oluoch says Raila trust Mbadi’s leadership that is why he made him the party national chairperson and supported his cabinet appointment to the Treasury.
Oluoch says Raila could have been grooming Mbadi to lead the community in future and that is why he has entrusted him with various responsibilities both inside and outside the parliament.
“Treasury is particularly important office. It gives Mbadi the local and international connections that he will require in his future political pursuit and currently the community look up at him as the possible next leader after Raila,” he says,
Before his appointment, Mbadi had an extensive career in public service, most recently serving as a nominated Member of Parliament (MP) and the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly.
The CS has a rich history in legislative leadership, having served as the elected MP for Suba South Constituency, Suba Constituency, and Gwassi Constituency. His experience extends to roles such as Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Leader of Minority in the National Assembly. Throughout his parliamentary tenure, he was a member of numerous key committees, including the House Business Committee, Liaison Committee, Budget and Appropriations Committee, Selection Committee, Appointments Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Public Investments Committee, Constitutional Implementation Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Cost of Living, and the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee. Notably, he was also a member of the Legislative Taskforce responsible for drafting the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.
Mr. Ochieng says with the new political realignment Mbadi will be instrumental in spearheading the community’s socio-economic and political dispensation owing to his present position in the government.
“Mbadi becomes the first Luo to hold the position of Treasury. Former president Mwai Kibaki was also minister for Finance and he later became the president, what could stop Mbadi from following in his footsteps,” he quips.
He says Mbadi is already steading the country’s economy and expressed confidence in the cabinet secretary in making a milestone in his work.
