- The Star has established that Raila on Monday confirmed that none of the two deputy party leader posts would be available for Kisii and Nyamira regions.
- Arati had recently intensified behind-the-scenes campaigns for the position of deputy party leader.
Image: ODM/X
A major fallout is looming in the ODM party after it emerged that key allies of opposition chief Raila Odinga are scrambling for top leadership slots.
There are signals that Raila, who has intensified campaigns for his continental job, is facing a delicate balancing act to quell growing tensions and assuage key allies.
Key regions that form his loyal support bases are engaged in dogfights for the party's influential leadership positions that have fallen vacant in the national office.
The positions of his two deputies are said to have triggered squabbles in the party with his close allies clashing over them, exposing growing friction in ODM.
The two positions fell vacant following the resignation of former Governors Wycliffe Oparanya(Kakamega) and Hassan Joho(Mombasa).
They were nominated to join the Cabinet by President William Ruto in his broad-based government.
The Star has established that Raila on Monday confirmed that none of the two deputy party leader posts would be available for Kisii and Nyamira regions.
The positions have reportedly been reserved for Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
This according to Raila would ensure the stability of the party based on the regional formula that was already agreed on to ensure fairness in the sharing of leadership posts.
The ODM boss made the remarks when he held a meeting with party leaders from the two counties including Kisii Governor Simba Arati at a Nairobi Hotel.
Arati had recently intensified behind-the-scenes campaigns for the position of deputy party leader.
Arati is serving as the current ODM vice chairperson while former Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire is the National Treasurer.
While Raila did not reveal the names to Kisii leaders who met him on Monday, he told them that those appointed will hold the posts on an interim basis “awaiting the return of Joho and Oparanya before 2027".
“They are going to come back," Raila reportedly told the delegation which included elected ODM MPs from Kisii and Nyamira county.
Some party loyalists from Nairobi and parts of Western Kenya had backed Arati to assume one of the positions arguing that his aggressive grassroots mobilisation skills would come in handy for the party.
"Arati has been steadfast in the party and has contributed immensely to its growth both in Nairobi where he served as an MP and presently in Kisii county," Makadara MP George Aladwa said on Sunday.
"He is a good listener and works closely with the youth and his elevation to this position to engage them and mobilise them into working with our party, we appeal to our Party leader Raila Odinga to consider Governor Arati."
The jostling for the vacant deputy party leader positions in the ODM party intensified at the Coast over the weekend, threatening to divide the Orange house.
Two names have been fronted to take up the position formerly held by Joho, the Mining and Blue Economy CS nominee.
The three are Nassir and his Kilifi counterpart Gideon Mung’aro.
They are rank-and-file members of the party but with different political and financial muscles.
Political leaders are now lining up behind them, each pushing for their preferred candidate.
In Mombasa, Nassir received support from Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, who said he would defend him for his work in the county.
Twalib said he will take this stand even if it means becoming a lone ranger.
Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi, who appeared to be representing Mung’aro’s interests, said Kilifi also deserves to be in the top echelons of the party.
“You Mombasa people have had the seat for 10 years. Is there a problem if you allow us to also have a taste of the seat? Let us also enjoy the sit a bit,” she said.
The National Chairman position is also up for grabs following the nomination of John Mbadi as the National Treasury and Planning Cabinet Secretary nominee.
There are reports that Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga could have been earmarked for the position to match UDA which has Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire as the chairperson.
The seat has attracted political heavyweights Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ and his Narok counterpart Ledama Ole Kina.
Kajwang’ said that he comes from a region that fully supports the ODM Party and would make history if elected by holding a position that his elder brother former Homa Bay Senator the late Otieno Kajwang once occupied before he suddenly passed away.
“If elected as ODM National Chairman it would be a win for the youth of Kenya since they will be represented at the highest echelons of the largest opposition party in Kenya, coming from a region that fully supports ODM Party is a plus for me as I move to other areas seeking support,” Kajwang’ said.
Ole Kina who is ready to battle it out with Kajwang’ for the national chairman position, said that he was ready to serve the party since he proved to be decisive when he stood up to defend the Azimio Coalition at Bomas of Kenya.
“I am ready to make our party vibrant as it keeps the government in check inside and outside parliament, I feel I am the right candidate to serve as the ODM National Chairman and will be going out to seek the support of our party members to clinch this position,” he said.