Cord leader Raila Odinga yeterday accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of trying to weaken the opposition’s numerical strength in Parliament by nominating Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery to be Interior CS.
Raila faulted the President for failing to consult the opposition before “poaching our member”.
He was speaking during the ODM National Governing Council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya, called to approve new party officials. The new leadership was approved, ending months of internal struggle that weakened the party and ODM.
“Nkaissery is not an angel but an MP. You cannot poach our member elected on an ODM ticket without consulting the leadership of the party,” Raila said.
He said poaching an ODM member to head such a critical ministry at a critical time of insecurity shows that Jubilee has run out of ideas.
‘We will not deny you the expertise that you need if you asked properly. But it is not fair to reduce our numerical strength through the back door,” the Cord leader said
President Uhuru on Monday named Nkaissery, a retired major general, the new CS for Interior and Coordination of the National Government.
Nkaissery was elected on an ODM ticket and will have to resign his position once Parliament approves his nomination to take over from Joseph Ole Lenku, whose future remains unclear.
Raila asked Jubilee not to field any candidate in Kajiado Central constituency to guarantee ODM keeps the seat.
“As ODM, we don’t want to be subjected to an unnecessary by-election in Kajiado Central. If we are, then we want to go unopposed to recapture our seat,” the former prime minister said.
Parliament has asked Kenyans to present their memorandums about the Interior CS nominee by Wednesday, before he appears fon Thursday for vetting before the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
At the Bomas meeting yesterday, Raila was victorious after the NGC approved new party officials.
Delegates unanimously approved Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba as the new secretary general, with Elizabeth Ongoro and Agnes Zani as his two deputies. Suba MP John Mbadi (Chairman) and governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wyckliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) were also endorsed as Raila’s two deputies .
The meeting also created the Director of Elections position under Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, in an effort to address nomination challenges that have often overshadowed party primaries.
“The new officials and changes will help strengthen and revitalize the ODM party as the country’s largest movement ahead of 2017,” said Embakasi East MP John Omondi.
Delegates included senators, governors, MPs and 47 party county chairpersons.
A reenergised Raila asked party members to forget the ghosts of the February 28, when goons disrupted party elections at Kasarani. The young generation was poised to take over, posing a threat to the old guard.
“Every party has its low moment. And February was our low moment when journalists started to write the obituary of ODM. Let us forget that day forever,” Raila said.
“Today I feel delighted with the new ‘collabo’ that has brought us here. It is our new face of the fresh ODM. It shows democracy and that no one is indispensable in our party.”
Ababu described the new line-up as a “team that will send shivers down the spines of the jubilee’ administration,” as it new leaders set their sights on delivering the Presidency to ODM in 2017.
“The battle we go into is no mean battle. The opponents have perfected the art of stealing from the public but we shall approach them not with fear but courage,” Namwamba said acceptance speech, laden with Biblical allusions. At the same time, he extended an olive branch to those who in the old guard had objected to the new list. He called for joining hands and working together.
Most of the new officials stressed the need to clean up nominations and strengthen support at the grassroots to ensure their party forms the next government.
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