Raila to make changes in ODM

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga is said to have convened an urgent National Governing Council meeting which will be preceded by the National Executive Committee Friday next week to make major changes in the party.

The meeting which aims at de-whipping several of the defiant lawmakers in the party will equally serve to replace 11 former officials, including former General Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who decamped to Jubilee Party.

The on Thursday reported of a plan by the party convenes in a bid to address the existing and “increasingly strenuous relationship between the affiliate parties, amid fears that the coalition is headed for an acrimonious split over unreasonable demands on its senior partner.”

The paper hinted at a plot to have a more vibrant political mobilizer to reenergize the party, which is now a decade old, whose shine is slowly diminishing, thanks to the “shambolic party primaries in May last year.”

ODM Chairman and National Assembly Minority leader John Mbadi confirmed the urgency of the dual meetings, but failed to disclose additional agenda for the rarely dual conventions.

“Yes, we have an NEC on February 22 and NGC the next day,” Mbadi said in a text message on Wednesday.

Pressure after swearing-in

The ODM leader has been subjected to massive pressure following the conspicuous failure to attend the highly touted swearing-in ceremony by his co-principals Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka. Mr Musyoka has already said that Mr Odinga’s oath was unlawful.

ALSO READ: Kalonzo declines to be sworn-in

Mr Odinga’s ODM is said to be seeking to fill the vacancies of two out of three vice-chairmanships vacated by Eldas MP Adan Keynan and former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma to join Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok. The two ditched ODM party in the run up to the August 8 polls.

ODM party is branded as the largest party in the Nasa coalition with 98 MPs in both the Senate and the National Assembly. Kalonzo’s Wiper Party has 26 lawmakers, Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress has a7 lawmakers and Ford Kenya led by Moses Wetangula has 13 members.

Wetangula out

The Odinga-led party is said to be threatening to use its popularity muscle in the houses to make changes in the leadership.

Ford Kenya leader and Minority leader in the Senate Mr Moses Wetang’ula and Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa (deputy Minority Whip, National Assembly) have been targeted in the new onslaught.

Other causalities targeted are Wiper Party’s Mutula Kilonzo (Minority Whip, Senate), Jessica Mbalu (Speaker’s Panel) and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui (deputy Minority Leader, National Assembly).