Labour Party of Kenya chairperson Julia Ojiambo (pictured) has reversed herself and now says the party welcomes ODM rebel politicians from Western.
The Star is told Ojiambo has expressed willingness for embattled ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba and former vice chairman Paul Otuoma to take over her party, but with conditions for her to get back into active politics. The LPK chairperson earlier told the Star she is not ready to give out the party to politicians. Ojiambo said the party is meant to push for workers’ welfare. She has given the Namwamba team demands, among them an undertaking that she be nominated to either Senate or National Assembly, if the party qualifies for nomination slots after next year’s August general election. However, the politicians are said to be unhappy with her demands as negotiations continue. “They want to takeover the party without conditions because they believe her active role in the party may not endear their mission to the young generation,” an MP said.
Otuoma wants to use the party to vie for Busia governor. Namwamba and Otuoma last month led a group of nine ODM legislators from western to express their dissatisfaction with the party and threatened to quit if their political interests were not considered. “We remind everyone that we are neither guests nor slaves of anyone. We have contributed to what ODM is today and have a big stake in it. No one will intimidate, bully or wrongly profile us,” Otuoma said before resigning.
 has reversed herself and now says the party welcomes ODM rebel politicians){kind=link}