Africa-Press – Kenya. ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga has questioned why the Linda Wananchi faction is skipping Friday’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) in Nairobi.
Wanga said it’s ironic that the faction led by secretary general Edwin Sifuna demanded the convening of the crucial meeting only to turn around and instead announce a parallel meeting.
“On this NDC issue; they are the ones who demanded for it. They kept shouting call the NDC now. And when NEC met and called for the NDC as per the law, they said instead they will be holding a parallel meeting,” she said.
Whereas they have a right of holding a meeting anywhere, Wanga, who is also the Homabay Governor, on Wednesday castigated the faction for ‘not having the interests of the party at heart’.
“Party members will now ask who has its interest at heart. Yes, they have a democratic right to hold their meetings anywhere, but why run away from a meeting that they desperately called for,” she asked.
ODM is scheduled to hold its first NDC following the death of its founder and Raila Odinga in October last year, where among others, delegates are expected to approve a resolution for the party to hold talks with ruling UDA over a coalition ahead of 2027 polls.
The Friday meeting will take place at Jamhuri grounds in Kibra constituency while Sifuna-led Linda Wananchi has convened a parallel rally at Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi East.
The two factions have differed strongly over the fate of ODM following Raila’s death as the Oburu Oginga-led Linda Ground favours cementing a deal with President William Ruto while Sifuna’s team wants the party to field its own candidate to oppose Ruto.
Other than Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, MPs Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba) and Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula) leading the anti-Broad Based Government battalion.
ODM’s attempt to replace Sifuna hit a snag after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issued temporary orders stopping the NEC decision pending a case challenging the decision.
This means ODM delegates will only be asked to confirm the appointment of Oburu as party leader, his deputies Simba Arati and Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir. Osotsi is the third deputy party leader but is not expected to attend the NDC as he belongs to Sifuna team.
The PPDT is expected to rule tomorrow on a case challenging the convening the NDC after party member Vincent Chepkwony moved to the Tribunal early this month, claiming the party had failed to address issues he raised about what he termed as irregular changes in the ODM leadership.
Chepkwony wants the PPDT to quash the resolutions of ODM’s National Committee (NEC) meeting of February 11 that set the date of NDC, among other decisions.
“None of the members of the ODM holding National Offices has been legally elected by the NDC as required by the constitution. The members have been passing resolutions purporting to bind the party and members,” Chepkwony, through lawyer Deynes Muriithi states.
