Speaking after a two-hour meeting chaired by Party Leader Raila Odinga, ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba said the committee will hold another sitting in two weeks, where the matters he raised will be deliberated/CFM NEWS
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Committee has resolved to form a structure “to handle emerging issues.”
Speaking after a two-hour meeting chaired by Party Leader Raila Odinga, ODM Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba said the committee will hold another sitting in two weeks, where the matters he raised will be deliberated.
“We have discussed a framework for handling emerging issues in the party and it is within that framework which the committee has discussed today, that those emerging issues will be handled but those issues were not on the agenda; what we have discussed is how to resolve those emerging issues,” the ODM Secretary-General told reporters.
He dismissed queries from the media whether he is disgruntled by the failure to resolve the matter.
“Do I look disgruntled? I have not been disgruntled, I am not disgruntled. When issues are raised with the intention of resolution to strengthen the party and to make the party move forward in a stronger position, it has nothing to do with disgruntlement, so let us handle that when the matter comes up for substantive discussion,” he said.
Namwamba broke his months-long silence, last week when he and other western Kenya MPs convened a news conference where they complained that he was ‘very frustrated’ as Secretary General.
The Budalang’i MP denied allegations that he is a mole of the ruling Jubilee Coalition.
In the meantime, the Wednesday meeting also reached consensus on a fresh list of MPs to represent the party in the proposed Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The list which is to be presented before both Houses for adoption on Thursday will first have to be endorsed by the Parliamentary Group Meeting of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).
“Today’s meeting resolved to, among other things, to support nominees to the IEBC reforms negotiations team which is to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament this week,” the ODM Secretary-General said.
This development came hours after CORD recalled its list of seven nominees to the joint parliamentary select committee over disagreement on the team’s composition.
CORD had nominated Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
CORD leaders differed on the composition of the joint select committee, with Ford Kenya insisting on Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale taking the slot declined by Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili while CORD women MPs on the other hand insisted the slot belongs to them as women.
Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to hold talks on the matter and have each formed teams to represent them.
The talks come about after CORD organised weekly demonstrations in May and June to push for the removal of the IEBC Chairman and eight Commissioners.
The demonstrations unfortunately turned violent leaving several people dead, others injured while businesses and properties were vandalized or destroyed.
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