ODM MCAs in Mombasa defy party headquarters over county assembly leadership change
Led by Old Town MCA Abdirahman Hussein, the legislators reaffirmed their vote to replace Athman Mwamiri with Priscillah Mema Mumba as the Leader of the Majority Party.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ward representatives in Mombasa have dismissed efforts by the party’s national office in Nairobi to block recent leadership changes in the County Assembly, insisting the decision was a lawful prerogative of elected members.
Led by Old Town MCA Abdirahman Hussein, the legislators reaffirmed their vote to replace Athman Mwamiri with Priscillah Mema Mumba as the Leader of the Majority Party.
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They said 24 of the 32 ODM MCAs backed the change, which they argued was carried out in accordance with Standing Order 15, granting the majority party members the authority to choose their leader.
According to the MCAs, the decision was communicated to the Assembly Speaker on July 4, acknowledged by the ODM Mombasa Branch on July 9 and publicly announced in the House during its 44th sitting on August 5.
However, ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen, in a August 7, letter to Speaker Aharub Ibrahim Khatri, directed that the “status quo” be maintained while the party reviewed the propriety of the change and convened a meeting to address concerns within two weeks.
The MCAs dismissed the letter as “belated and irrelevant,” accusing the party’s headquarters of unwarranted interference.
“We will not accept dictates from Nairobi on County Assembly leadership,” they said, adding that any attempt to reverse their decision was “undemocratic and an affront to the Assembly’s sovereignty.”
They urged the ODM leadership to focus on strengthening grassroots structures ahead of future political contests, vowing to resist external political influence and to serve Mombasa residents with integrity, courage, and independence.
Ward representatives, including Freretown MCA Mariam Baimu, who said there was discontent over how Mwamwiri led the House.
“We were unhappy with his leadership. We have now entrusted this responsibility to a woman and believe she will steer us differently. We are pleased with this shift,” said Baimu.
Photos of ODM MCAs in Mombasa. They have dismissed efforts by the party’s national office in Nairobi to block recent leadership changes in the County Assembly, insisting the decision was a lawful prerogative of elected members.
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