ODM deputy chairperson Janet Ong'era quits party

Former Kisii Governor James Ongwae and former nominated Senator and Kisii Woman Representative Janet Ong’era have formally announced their resignation from Mr Raila Odinga’s ODM party after more than 15 years of association with the party.

The two who spoke at a city hotel yesterday did not immediately announce their next destination but promised to do so in the coming days even as they unequivocally stated that they do not regret their decision.

“We have today decided conscientiously to resign from the ODM party with immediate effect. It has been an honour serving in ODM, we regret nothing, but we move to the next phase with a clear mind on how better as a country we can manage our political affairs before and after elections,” said Mr Ongwae.

Mr Stephen Nyarangi, Mr Ongwae’s political advisor during his stint as the governor, was also present.

Mr Nyarangi was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) party leader before it was acquired by former Migori County Governor Okoth Obado for the August election in which he supported President Ruto’s bid.

“As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, there is a time and a season for everything and for us it’s time to exit. We will announce our next political journey and way forward,” the former Governor added as he dispelled claims that he is shopping for a party that he will use to enter a post-election deal with the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The position the two Gusii community leaders have taken may to a great extent define the community’s political direction in the coming days.

“As of now, our move means that ODM is at crossroads in Kisii and the neighbouring Nyamira County,” Ms Ong’era, who until her resignation was ODM deputy chairperson, said.

Mr Ongwae has been Mr Odinga’s point man in Nyanza and was his chief campaigner in the region in the August 9, 2022 presidential campaigns.

The soft-spoken but scheming Mr Ongwae has served as Kisii Governor for two terms of five years each- the maximum a county governor is mandated by the constitution- and has been the pillar of ODM in Nyanza region for the last 15 years.

During his period as the governor, he helped ODM win all the five by-elections held in Kisii County for various positions including parliamentary and at the County Assembly level.

However, just days after President William Ruto was announced the winner of the August 2022 Presidential election, the former Permanent Secretary in the late President Daniel Arap Moi’s government, announced his allegiance to the President.

Yesterday, Mr Ongwae officially formalized his dalliance with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition by decamping from the party that got him from the civil service into active politics in the country.

“We have today arrived at this decision having carefully taken stock of the activities preceding the last general election and more so the ill manner in which the party treated us and our supporters through political patronage by individuals who never had the interest of our community at heart,” said Mr Ongwae.

The former Governor said that the country is at a stage where leaders should join progressive minded leaders and parties that focus on unity and collective decision making in the affairs that affect “our society”.

Ms Ong’era was the founder member of ODM and at some point she served as the party’s executive director before she was nominated in 2013 to the Senate.

In 2017, she was elected Kisii County Woman Representative.

Her attempts to defend the seat in the August 2022 general elections failed after she was floored by Ms Donya Aburi (Wiper), a journalist, who was in the camp of Mr Simba Arati, the serving  Kisii County Governor.

Mr Arati floored Prof Sam Ongeri, Mr Ongwae’s choice, in the ODM nominations and at the ballot.

Mr Ongwae has had a long experience in the public service during the late Presidents Moi and Mwai Kibaki administrations.

He first served as the Chief Management Analyst in the Office of the President during the late Moi’s administration rising to become the Programmes director in the civil service for nine years and was in charge of the reorganization and retrenchment programme.

The late president Moi would later appoint him Permanent Secretary, since renamed Principal Secretary under the 2010 constitution, and Director of Personnel Management (DPM) in the Office of the President.

He was later appointed Secretary and CEO of the Teachers Service Commission (CEO) during the late Kibaki’s administration before he was elected Kisii County governor in the March 4, 2013, general election.