ODM leaders shoot down endorsement of Governor Orengo as Raila successor
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) County Chairpersons across
the nation have downplayed the Nairobi chapter’s endorsement of Siaya Governor James
Orengo to replace Raila Odinga as the party leader.
This comes after ODM’s Nairobi County officials, led by Chairman
George Aladwa, on Monday jointly drummed up support for Governor Orengo to take
over the mantle from Mr. Odinga, who is presently engaged in a race to take up
the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson’s seat.
The county party bosses, led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes
Barasa, during a meeting on Tuesday however termed such an endorsement as a premature
discussion that will need ODM’s top brass to first deliberate on.
“We have resolved that since Baba (Mr. Odinga) is still the party
leader, a conversation around his succession is premature because we have
structures of dealing with appointments of an acting party leader,” said
Barasa.
“There will a (meeting of the) Central Management Committee
tomorrow, National Executive Committee (NEC) next week, and in October we shall
have the National Delegates Conference which will deliberate on that agenda.”
Barasa sought to assure party members that, even with Mr.
Odinga’s impending exit, there will be no lacuna in leadership as structures
are in place to handle any eventualities.
“As county chairmen, we’re in charge of party activities in
our 47 counties. So, I want t assure the membership that we don’t have a lacuna;
ODM as a party has structures, and once those structures have been strengthened,
then we will no have a lacuna, even if Baba exits.”
Aladwa, who was also present during the said meeting, told
journalists that the discussions centered on strengthening the ODM party at the
grassroot level, adding that Mr. Odinga's succession talks were not featured.
However, sources from the same meeting confided in Citizen
Digital that Aladwa, who also doubles as the caucus Chairman, came under fierce
rage from the members following his assertion to propose Orengo without the
party's governing council’s input.
The debate on Mr. Odinga's replacement has taken centre stage within
the party, with intense lobbying on course, as the opposition strongman now
seeks to take up an international assignment that could reduce his presence in
national politics.
Mr. Odinga, the former Prime Minister, has been at the helm of
the party leadership since its inception in 2005.
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