Should Millie be approved, and appointed, she would replace Wandayi who was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
Suba North legislator Millie Odhiambo was on Wednesday, July 24 endorsed by women Members of Parliament affiliated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, to take over from Opiyo Wandayi as the Minority Leader of the National Assembly.
Kisumu West lawmaker, Rozaah Buyu, who took to the floor of the August House, called upon Speaker Moses Wetangula to consider Millie for the post, which immediately fell vacant when Wandayi was nominated to President William Ruto’s Cabinet.
Buyu believed it was time for women to be heard and to stand out in leadership positions, including those in the National Assembly, with the appointment as Minority Leader evidence of the vital role women play in support of the opposition party.
Should Millie be approved, and appointed, she would replace Wandayi who was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
Energy Cabinet Secretary nominee, Opiyo Wandayi speaking during a consultative parliamentary group meeting of Azimio-One Kenya Coalition in Nairobi on July 17, 2024. /OPIYO WANDAYI
“We have seen women be at the forefront of Azimio and it is time that a woman is allowed to lead this house,” Rozaah Buyu commented.
“I am speaking of a woman who is distinguished in terms of her debates in this house. I am talking about a distinguished lawyer and human rights campaigner.”
Meanwhile, Wandayi took to social media to appreciate President Ruto for the nomination and credited Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga for mentoring him.
“Thank you, President William Ruto, for nominating me to the position of CS, Energy and Petroleum.
“It will be a great honour and privilege to serve my country in this new capacity if I secure the approval of the National Assembly. My gratitude to Baba Raila Odinga for his enduring mentorship and tutelage,” said Wandayi.
The Ugenya Member of Parliament (MP) will not only have to step down from the position of Minority Leader in the National Assembly but also drop his post as an MP, a matter that would prompt by-elections in his constituency to find his replacement.
Wandayi was named alongside a handful of ODM members including John Mbadi (Treasury) and Hassan Joho (Mining), during President Ruto’s address to the nation at State House on Wednesday.
ODM was the biggest winner in the nominations, this coming despite earlier assertions by the Raila Odinga-led party that its members would not accept any ministerial appointments from President Ruto.
“A narrative has been woven that ODM is desperate to join the government when all along we have been clear that what we seek is a national conversation preceded by the creation of the necessary environment through the implementation of the conditions above.
“Some of our members have also fallen for the campaign of lies and misinterpreted our stance as a license to engage the Kenya Kwanza leadership and canvass for ministerial and/or other positions in the Ruto government,” read the statement in part from the party on Tuesday, July 23.
Other than the ODM members, Wycliffe Oparanya, the former Kakamega Governor who currently doubles up as the chairperson of the National Coalition Executive Council and Chairman of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party, was nominated as the Cooperatives and MSMEs in a broad-based government.
Raila Odinga speaking during a press briefing on April 11, 2024. /CALEB AMISI