The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) County Chairpersons across the nation have downplayed the Nairobi chapter’s endorsement of Siaya Governor James Orengo to replace Raila Odinga as the party leader.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
This comes after ODM’s Nairobi County officials, led by Chairman George Aladwa, on Monday jointly drummed up support for Governor Orengo to take over the mantle from Mr. Odinga, who is presently engaged in a race to take up the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson’s seat.
The county party bosses, led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, during a meeting on Tuesday however termed such an endorsement as a premature discussion that will need ODM’s top brass to first deliberate on.
“We have resolved that since Baba (Mr. Odinga) is still the party leader, a conversation around his succession is premature because we have structures of dealing with appointments of an acting party leader,” said Barasa.
“There will a (meeting of the) Central Management Committee tomorrow, National Executive Committee (NEC) next week, and in October we shall have the National Delegates Conference which will deliberate on that agenda.”
Barasa sought to assure party members that, even with Mr. Odinga’s impending exit, there will be no lacuna in leadership as structures are in place to handle any eventualities.
“As county chairmen, we’re in charge of party activities in our 47 counties. So, I want t assure the membership that we don’t have a lacuna; ODM as a party has structures, and once those structures have been strengthened, then we will no have a lacuna, even if Baba exits.”
Aladwa, who was also present during the said meeting, told journalists that the discussions centered on strengthening the ODM party at the grassroot level, adding that Mr. Odinga’s succession talks were not featured.
However, sources from the same meeting confided in Citizen Digital that Aladwa, who also doubles as the caucus Chairman, came under fierce rage from the members following his assertion to propose Orengo without the party’s governing council’s input.
The debate on Mr. Odinga’s replacement has taken centre stage within the party, with intense lobbying on course, as the opposition strongman now seeks to take up an international assignment that could reduce his presence in national politics.
Mr. Odinga, the former Prime Minister, has been at the helm of the party leadership since its inception in 2005….CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARTICLE>>>
