ODM secretary-general Ababu Namwamba is fighting to save his political life amid claims of a fresh plot in his party to strip him of the position.
Mr Namwamba, who was until last week the chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, filed a case at the High Court seeking to quash the report of the Powers and Privileges Committee.
The adoption of the report by MPs last Tuesday resulted in the disbandment of PAC.
Mr Namwamba was subsequently barred from sitting in any reconstituted PAC and after he refused to apologise for bringing the House into disrepute, he was kicked out of the House for four sitting days.
His woes deepened on Monday when some ODM leaders plotted to strip him of the secretary-general’s post during the party’s retreat at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos.
ODM’s National Elections Board and the National Executive Committee are meeting to pick new PAC members and discuss other party affairs.
Though the proposal has not been formally presented, an MP at the meeting told the Nation that he and other leaders were aware of the plan.
There has been discomfort in the party’s leadership with the secretary-general after Mr Namwamba secretly recorded a conversation with party leader Raila Odinga as he sought evidence to save himself from a motion of no-confidence he was facing as PAC chairman late February.
He compounded the discomfort after he was reported to have told elected representatives from western Kenya over the weekend to start preparing to abandon ODM before the next elections.
But when asked about it, he said: “I am a one-woman kind of a man. I have been with ODM from inception and I am in ODM to stay.”
He said those reporting that he has been critical of the party are “pandering to the agenda of some forces out there determined to bring discord to this party”.
“Ababu Namwamba is the secretary-general of ODM and as you can see, I have no plan, no intention of packing to go anywhere. This is home for me,” he said.
The Committee on Selection is scheduled to meet this morning over the PAC selection. Majority Leader Aden Duale said he would only replace Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes, TNA) and James Bett (Kesses, URP) because they are barred from sitting in the new one.
In court, Mr Namwamba suffered an initial set back after Justice Weldon Korir declined to issue orders stopping the implementation of the report of the committee chaired by Kuresoi North MP Moses Cheboi.
“I want to hear all the parties before any decision can be taken on the matter,” said Justice Kirui.
HEARING SET FOR MAY
He however certified the matter as urgent and set the hearing for May 6, when the court will give direction on the matter.
Those expected to file responses on the matter include the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney-General.
Through lawyer Isaiah Mandala, Mr Namwamba told the court that the process leading to the purported reconstitution as well as the manner of the reconstitution contravenes the provision of the law and Standing Orders.
In his sworn affidavit, Mr Namwamba said the aim of the process is to interfere with its ongoing investigations especially the inquiry into corruption at IEBC.
Reported by Stephen Muthini, Mazera Ndurya and John Ngirachu
-nation.co.ke
