ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga asserted that the party would not agree to engage with anyone acting in bad faith and with ulterior motives
More cracks have emerged within the Azimio la Umoja coalition after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Monday, August 19 claimed deliberate attempts to force Raila Odinga into heeding their demands.
Addressing the media, ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga asserted that the party would not agree to engage with anyone acting in bad faith and with ulterior motives, and in making reference to Raila’s commitment to the opposition, she believed that the questioning of his stance was a sign that the parties were acting maliciously.
“They are hiding behind the three gentlemen and one lady who joined government and using it to try and wrestle the leadership of the houses of Parliament from ODM. We find that unacceptable,” she stated in part.
Homa Bay Governor, Gladys Wanga during a past address. /GLADYS WANGA
The Homa Bay Governor affirmed that House leadership is about numbers in the house and not those in government, adding that ODM wields the highest number of MPs professing and committed to Azimio ideals and principles.
However, the majority of those lawmakers from Azimio’s other party affiliates courted the Kenya Kwanza coalition, according to Wanga, thus increasing the ruling coalition’s numbers in Parliament.
She went on to assert that ODM members have been forthright and honourable enough to declare that they are joining the government, citing what she termed as noble for the likes of former Deputy Party Leaders Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, former National Chairman John Mbadi, former Secretary for Political Affairs James Opiyo Wandayi and former member of the party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee Beatrice Askul to resign from the party to take up positions in President William Ruto’s government.
“The four have been honourable enough to relinquish their party positions instead of clinging to opposition leadership while serving in the government at the same time.
“The party leader has been forthright enough to explain that the four have joined in their individual capacities to do national duty and not as representatives of the party. That is ODM. We act transparently, honourably and accountably,” she added.
Wanga warned that the ODM party would not tolerate attempts by the Azimio affiliates to use Raila to get what they want, as well as attempts to use his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson role to mask sinister motives.
“As a party, ODM will not accept any continued attempts to use Raila Odinga as a human shield, any continued attempt to arm-twist him into endorsing anybody at this stage, or any continued attempt to use him as an excuse for the failure of leadership in individual constituent parties of Azimio.
“And we will not accept the use of Raila’s bid for AUC chairmanship to be used to pass ill-intentioned remarks disguised as well wishes and to arm-twist him on Azimio matters. Raila has earned his candidacy for AUC chairmanship,” she went on.
This comes after Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni said they would continue to work without Odinga since he has defined his path, with the principal parties in Azimio opposed to the Government rallying behind Kalonzo Musyoka naming him as their new opposition leader.
The coalition comprises five principal parties including Jubilee, Wiper Party, Party of National Unity (PNU), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and ODM, with concerns regarding the future of Azimio growing larger by the day.
Kalonzo Musyoka speaking during a press briefing on July 19, 2024. /KALONZO MUSYOKA