ODM Factions Agree on “Nusu Mkate” Leadership

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 3 – They jostled to stand next to party leader Raila Odinga as calls for, “shhh!” could be heard over his communication of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Governing Council’s resolutions.

They had resolved to form what could be called a ‘coalition government,’ with three representatives from either faction, to be chaired by the party leader.

A transitional team necessitated, Odinga explained, by the botched February 28 party elections which rendered ODM a party without officials save for the party leader.

“Under our constitution it is the party leader who is empowered to remain in office until elections are held,” Odinga explained.

Those on either side of the divide being supporters of nominated Senator Agnes Zani or Budalangi Member of Parliament Ababu Namwamba – both contesting for the job of ODM Secretary General.

And while Odinga said he had given both sides 24 hours to nominate members to the transitional team, sources within the party told Capital FM News that the members had already been agreed upon.

“Zani will be together with Wycliffe Oparanya and Otieno Kajwang while Ababu will team up with Hassan Joho and Adan Keynan,” the sources revealed.

Odinga said the transitional team would now take over the responsibility for ensuring the party conducts successful elections.

The NGC, he added, also resolved to form a five-member taskforce to investigate who was behind the disruption of their elections on Febrary 28.

The team, Odinga said, would include neutral security experts who would have less than a month to get to the bottom of the disruption.

Former Assistant Minister for Defence Joseph Nkaiserry was proposed to chair the taskforce given his experience in matters security and his perceived neutrality.

Nominated Member of Parliament Isaac Mwaura who had been accused of disrupting Friday’s election welcomed the resolutions but denied having anything to do with the, ‘men-in-black’ who overturned tables and kicked ballot boxes at the Kasarani voting site.

“When I stood up at Kasarani I was standing up against travesty of justice and the corruption of an electoral process. I was standing up against pre-rigging. I was standing up against our party going into the annals of history with a bad record,” he defended.

A record Odinga, who was in no mood for questions, said would soon be set straight, “We want to assure our supporters that ODM is alive and kicking and ODM will emerge stronger than ever before.

Source-capitalfm.co.ke

ODM Factions Agree on “Nusu Mkate” Leadership