Battle looms in ODM as Babu Owino demands National Assembly's PAC Chair seat

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has slammed the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party over what he says amounts to betrayal.

Babu claims that the Raila Odinga-led party had initially promised him the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chair’s seat, but has allegedly now rescinded that decision.

According to the outspoken legislator, the seat has since been handed to ODM National Chairperson and Nominated MP John Mbadi.

He alleges that, in the supposed earlier arrangement, Mbadi was initially set to be fronted as the National Assembly’s Majority Leader; a position that has now been given to Ugunja legislator Opiyo Wandayi.

He hence says that he will not back down and allow the PAC leadership role to be taken away from him, as he opines that Mbadi has already been rewarded for his fidelity to the party by being nominated to the House.

"@TheODMparty, with due respect why should Hon John Mbadi come down from the position of Majority leader to PAC chair which was reserved for me? This will not happen!!! Over my dead body…Young people must get their space... it’s now or never. He has been rewarded through Nomination," Babu wrote on Twitter.

Babu, in an earlier tweet, hit out at the political outfit for not allowing the youth to occupy positions of leadership, despite their efforts and sacrifices.

"ODM Party, so many youth and myself sacrificed a lot and used our resources in the party over the years, our pay is betrayal and blackmail. It is OK. Tomorrow is another day," he wrote.

ODM Party, so many youth and myself sacrificed a lot and used our resources in the party over the years, our pay is betrayal and blackmail . It is OK. Tomorrow is another day.

Mbadi, who served as the 13th Parliament’s Minority Leader, was nominated to the National Assembly after he stepped down from the Homa Bay gubernatorial race in favour of Gladys Wanga, who flew the ODM party ticket to victory.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party on September 17, 2022 selected Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi as its Majority Leader in the National Assembly, with Kathiani legislator Robert Mbui as his deputy.

Vocal Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was picked as the coalition party’s Majority Whip in the House, deputized by Nominated MP Sabina Chege.