Inside Raila's meeting with Kisii ODM leaders

A stormy meeting between ODM leader Raila Odinga and party politicians from the Gusii region failed to resolve key issues that have recently triggered uproar.

The meeting at a Nairobi Hotel came days after the ODM politicians met on August 1 to strategise their approach after the region was snubbed in Cabinet slots.

When they met Raila on Monday, the leaders including elected MPs and party officials from the region demanded answers from the ODM  boss.

They first raised concerns with the distribution of the minority leadership positions in the National Assembly which were largely taken up by MPs from Luo Nyanza.

The politicians also sought Raila's explanation on how the region failed to get a share of the Cabinet slots dished out to ODM by President William Ruto.

At the same time, the ODM politicians were concerned that the distribution of top-party leadership positions was unfairly leaving out the two counties.

It was during the meeting that Raila downplayed the concerns telling the ODM MPs to be considerate of the delicate regional balancing act the party has to navigate through.

"The positions are shared fairly to ensure regional balance without leaving any community out,'' Raila reportedly told the politicians on Monday.

Raila denied that he had sidelined Gusii region saying both Kisii and Nyamira are his strongholds that he holds dear in his heart. 

He, however, promised to look into some of the issues raised about the distribution of house leadership slots after MPs complained that they had been denied privileges.

For instance, the MPs including Bomachoge Borabu's Obadiah Barongo complained that they have been placed in only a few committees while their friends from other ODM support bases are in more than two panels.

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi asked Raila if he could consider him for the Minority leadership position that is already earmarked for Suna East's Junet Mohamed.

However, Raila was non-commital, indicating that nothing much will change in the house leadership positions as already decided by the Central Management Committee.

"We will look into that and see how we can balance committees,'' Raila is said to have told the MPs.

The meeting was attended by among others Kisii Governor Simba Arati and ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire.

Others who attended the meeting included MPs Anthony Kibagendi(Kitutu Chache South), Okong’o Omogeni(Nyamira Senator), Cleve Gisairo(Kitutu Masaba), Obadiah Barongo(Bomachoge Borabu), Patrick Osero(Borabu) and nominate MP Irere Mayaka.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku, who were all elected on ODM tickets, did not attend the meeting.

The two did not attend another preparatory meeting by their colleagues held on August 1 in Nairobi.

There has been growing disquiet among the ODM leaders from the Kisii and Nyamira counties over alleged bias especially after the region was left out of the party’s share of the CS nominations.

There are fears the disaffection could jolt Raila’s quest to consolidate the Gusii region through loyal foot soldiers at a time when he is eyeing the African Union Commission chairperson job.

Luo Nyanza, Raila’s heartland secured two CS slots including John Mbadi(National Treasury) and Opiyo Wandayi(Ugunja), leaving Kisii and Nyamira counties out of the ODM share.

The other two CS slots went to Hassan Joho (ex-Mombasa governor), Wycliffe Oparanya (ex-Kakamega governor) and Beatrice Askul from Turkana County.

In his share of the Cabinet, President Ruto picked Migosi Ogamba from Kisii County as the Education Cabinet Secretary, if approved by the National Assembly.

It is feared among ODM leaders that the nomination of Ogamba would enhance the UDA fortunes in the region at the expense of Raila at a time when he is focusing on the AUC bid.

Besides the Cabinet positions, ODM leaders from the Gusii region are also upset that top leadership positions in the National Assembly occasioned by the CS nominations further isolated them.

Following Wandayi’s elevation to the CS position, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was named as his successor to the plum position.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo will now take over Junet’s minority whip position in the National Assembly in changes that were announced by ODM following a Central Management Committee meeting on August 31.

After Wandayi was nominated as CS for Energy and Petroleum, Kibagendi declared his interest in succeeding the Ugunja lawmaker as National Assembly Minority Whip.

“I am an ODM elected legislator, I have been consistent in my defence of the party, I have courageously pushed the agenda of our Azimio coalition both in the House and out here in the public and I can offer the much-needed leadership as a minority leader," Kibagendi wrote on his X account on July 26.

Kibagendi said his pick as minority leader would ensure that regional balance is adhered to within the leadership of ODM and the Azimio coalition.

There are concerns that ODM's popularity in the region could be at stake if the party does not intervene to address the disaffection among its leaders from the area.

It has also emerged that a new formula for the leadership of the ODM party's top brass could further leave out Kisii and Nyamira counties.

There are reports that Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi could become the new deputy party leaders.

They will succeed Joho and Oparanya who were named as CSs.