Otuoma says he has never had a free hand to carry out his duties as the vice chairman of the party/XINHUA-File
KISUMU, Kenya, Jul 3 – ODM Vice Chairman Paul Otuoma announced on Saturday his exit as an official, but maintained that he is still a committed member of the Opposition party.
Addressing hundreds of supporters in Busia town, the Funyula MP said he has been frustrated and could no longer continue as an official.
Otuoma who sought permission from the people announced his resignation at a rally attended by the party Secretary General Ababu Namwamba who fell sort of announcing his resignation.
“I cannot speak as the Vice Chairman of the party and you take me for granted. From today I have resigned as the Vice Chairman of ODM,” he announced to a cheering crowd.
Earlier reports indicated that Namwamba had announced his resignation but he clarified that he is giving the party time “to put its house in order.”
He said he will resign if the party fails to recognise him and allow him to run the party in his capacity as the SG.
Otuoma says he has never had a free hand to carry out his duties as the vice chairman of the party further announcing that he will hand over his resignation letter to the party hierarchy.
He alleged that some people had hoodwinked the party leader Raila Odinga that things are okay in the party and dismissed the grievances of the ODM party MPs in the region.
“Somebody is cheating Raila who has stood with me that these people are just making noise; that just go to Busia and meet the people… which people? we are the people” he said.
Otuoma says the Busia meeting attended by CORD leaders was not successful because it was shunned by ODM party leaders in the county including the county Senator Amos Wako and Secretary General Namwamba.
The second time MP says the mistreatment was too much and he was unable to continue bearing the abuse.
Namwamba further narrated how he has stood with the party since inception and has remained a true supporter and follower of ODM.
He says he has suffered a lot marketing the party in Western region that was primarily dominated by other parties like Ford Kenya and UDF.
“I have invested in this party, I have defended this party. Nobody is more ODM than me. My first day in Parliament I made history when I refused to take oath with the name of the President,” he said.
He says that he is astonished by reports that he has been bought by the State to wreck havoc in ODM.
Namwamba blamed the party for failing to organize grassroots meetings with the party supporters almost 10 years after ODM was formed.
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