Junet Mohammed and John Mbadi fight over ODM Homa Bay polls
ODM national chairman John Mbadi. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party turned the heat on Jubilee administration demanding that an ethnic audit of all National Youths Service (NYS) recruits across the Country be carried out. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
What you need to know:
The angry Suna East MP said the entire party machinery is not aware of plans to hold the branch polls.
But Mr Mbadi fought back, insisting that it is within his mandate to ensure proper functioning of the party's offices at the branches.
Management of elections, he said, is not the work of the Director of Elections but the party's National Elections Board.
He said the branch wrote to him asking to fill vacant positions that have affected the running of ODM programmes in the county.
Two top ODM officials have disagreed over plans to conduct party elections in Homa Bay County on Saturday to fill vacant positions in the branch.
Suba MP John Mbadi, who is also the party’s national chairman, and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed on Thursday clashed bitterly over the matter, with the latter calling off the said elections.
“Mr Mbadi should stop opening new battlefronts in Homa Bay after a divisive election in the county. We want people to work together. ODM is not a briefcase party run by one man. We have organs whose roles must be respected,” said Mr Mohammed.
The angry Suna East MP said the entire party machinery is not aware of plans to hold the branch polls.
“All our resources should be channelled towards funding and delivering the Kajiado Central seat. Anybody engaging in any other elections other than the Kajiado Central elections is off the mark,” Mr Mohammed said.
FOUGHT BACK
The branch chairman’s seat is vacant following the death of Senator Otieno Kajwang' while that of vice-chairperson also fell vacant following the death of Ms Monica Amolo in a road crash.
But Mr Mbadi fought back, insisting that it is within his mandate to ensure proper functioning of the party's offices at the branches.
Management of elections, he said, is not the work of the director of elections but the party's National Elections Board.
He said the Saturday elections in Homa Bay must go on adding: “I have consulted the party leader as required and now the branch executive is duly in order to organize a meeting to elect new officials.”
FILL POSITIONS
He said the branch wrote to him asking to fill vacant positions that have affected the running of ODM programmes in the county.
Mr Mbadi said only the branch organizing secretary, the treasurer and the branch coordinator are duly in office in Homa Bay, adding that all the other offices would be filled on Saturday.
All sub-branch officials together with all county MCAs, he said, have been allowed to participate in the elections.
Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga is expected to face off with Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga for the chairperson's position.
“I am the senior of all the MPs currently interested having been in the ODM for long. Those who came the other day can hold other junior positions while I take this one,” said Mr Magwanga.
Karachuonyo MP James Rege insisted that he is still the branch secretary and warned Mr Mbadi against calling for elections without informing him.
DESTROY THE PARTY
“I am the branch secretary. It is unfair that he goes ahead to call for elections behind my back. If he is not careful, he will destroy the party,” he said.
At the same time, ODM Disciplinary Committee Chairman Fred Athuok on Thursday announced the party would take disciplinary measures against three party rebel MPs and two nominated MCAs in Narok.
Mr Athuok said the committee had written to the five asking them to show cause why they cannot be disciplined for acting against party principles.
The MPs are Mr Rege, Millie Odhiambo (Mbita) and George Oner (Rangwe), while the Narok MCAs are Lucia Teeke and Ms Lucy Ololng’ojine.
