Africa-Press – Kenya. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi now wants ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna expelled for allegedly leading a ‘rebel’ movement from within.Mbadi has asked party leader Oburu Oginga to consider convening a Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting to address the fate of Sifuna.
“Someone like Sifuna will not remain in ODM because already he is conflicted. He is now selling the agenda of someone else. Why are you pretending? You cannot keep him at the party,” the Treasury CS said.
Speaking in Suba South, Homa Bay county on Sunday, Mbadi said it is time that those who disagree with the party are shown the door, claiming that the Nairobi Senator and his group had switched their allegiance to the United Opposition.
“If someone does not want to agree with ODM policies, that person should be left to go so that we know how many people he is leaving with,” he said.
The CS spoke on the same day that Sifuna led the group, identifying itself as “Linda Wananchi” to Busia County, where they insisted that ODM can not enter into a pre-election agreement with President William Ruto.
There are fears that ODM is headed to a major split, as two camps emerge, pushing for a separate agenda ahead of next year’s general election.
One group led by Oginga is pushing for a pre-election pact with UDA, while the Sifuna-led group that includes Siaya Governor James Orengo insist that they ought to field a presidential candidate.
“ODM is a solid party. There is no way it will fail. It will remain solid the way Raila left it. Some people think we can not play politics. We will, and we will ensure we talk to our people to remain steadfast in ODM under the leadership of Oburu Oginga,” Mbadi argued.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who has in the past sided with the Sifuna team, appeared to react to the current demand on her Facebook page: “Who told you?”
The question is associated with late party leader Raila Odinga, in one of his last meeting sentiments made in a party forum, when he reaffirmed that his working arrangement with President Ruto was to last up to 2027 and that ODM had not passed a resolution on its position for the next election.
On Sunday, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino dared the Oginga-led faction to expel them, saying they were ready for a by-election.
“We will stand up to you. Even if today, you decide to expel us, we are ready to go back to the people through a by-election. The party that Baba handed over to us must move forward,” Babu said.
Governor Orengo added, “Nobody will force us to enter into a government we do not agree with. ODM must form the next government and must have a presidential candidate. Nobody can dare auction the ODM party. Everything that the party will do will come from the people themselves. This party will not be swallowed by any other party.”
