Headache for Raila in replacing key ODM men nominated as CSs

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is facing a daunting task ahead in balancing between the unfolding crisis at the Azimio La Umoja and replacing his key allies from the Orange Democratic Movement who were nominated to the Cabinet.

Azimio La Umoja comprises key parties, ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, Narc-Kenya and DAP-K, led by Raila, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, lawyer Martha Karua and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.

Only four opposition members were nominated to Ruto's cabinet, and the quartet are from Raila's ODM, raising speculations about the future of the opposition. The four are Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs), Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), John Mbadi (Treasury) and James Opiyo Wandayi (Energy).

Kalonzo and Karua have openly rejected an alliance with Ruto, with the former insisting that being part of the proposed broad-based government by President William Ruto is akin to betrayal, especially to Gen Z and millennials.

Karua, who has supported Gen Z and millennials in their protests against the government, also issued cryptic remarks on her X page today, including refuting reports that the opposition had joined the government.

"Part of the opposition..." Karua responded to a tweet that read, "Sad day for Kenya... The opposition is now the government, and the government is the opposition. A perfect quagmire."

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, who many believe always speak on behalf of Uhuru Kenyatta, had earlier stated that "Dialogue is not bad but is not useful for us as a country today. It is not going to work."

As Raila navigates the stormy waters in Azimio, especially with his coalition chairman and former President Uhuru Kenyatta not seeing eye to eye with Ruto, he also faces a headache replacing the four CS nominees in his ODM party and Parliament.

Wycliffe Oparanya and Ali Hassan Joho, who are former governors of Kakamega and Mombasa, respectively, served as ODM's deputy party leaders.

The two are among the die-hard Raila allies who have navigated the party through the 2017 and 2022 elections, where the former Prime Minister entered into deals with both Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Rtd) and the incumbent William Ruto.

Azimio La Umoja Coalition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa address the media at the Wiper Centre in Nairobi on Friday, June 21, 2024, (Photo: Wiper Party Press)

Oparanya and Joho were retained as deputy leaders in February 2018, when ODM reshuffled its leadership and appointed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General.

Raila will embark on a search to replace his two most trusted party generals, and going by the recent changes in the party, a battle line will be drawn between the elder and the youthful members.

In February last year, the party was rocked by wrangles after nominated MP and Treasury CS nominee John Mbadi threatened to resign as its chairman. Mbadi claimed that a group of ODM members wanted him to resign and even orchestrated his removal as the Minority Leader.

Mbadi, who opted against defending his Suba South parliamentary seat in the August 2022 General Election had served as minority leader prior to the polls. After Raila lost the election to Ruto, Ugunja MP and Energy CS nominee, Opiyo Wandayi was favoured for the minority leader seat, sparking wrangles in the party.

Mbadi settled for a nominated MP seat and was under the spotlight for his leadership of the ODM party.

One of the vocal MPs in ODM, Embakasi East lawmaker, Babu Owino, declared that he was ready to take over from Mbadi as the Chair of the ODM party, arguing that it was time for the youth to lead. Babu and other youthful leaders have yet to declare interest in the party leadership roles but all eyes will be on Raila as he plans the party's future more than three years towards the 2027 General Election.

To join the Cabinet, Mbadi, Joho, and Oparanya will have to resign from their positions at the party level to join the executive.

According to Section 13, Article VI of the Constitution, MPs cannot hold other government offices during their term without forfeiting their seat.

If an elected MP becomes a CS, they must resign from their parliamentary seat. The constitution also mandates that the Speaker of the National Assembly write a declaration of a vacancy in a constituency within 21 days of the occurrence of a vacancy by giving a notice to IEBC.

The IEBC is then mandated to conduct a by-election that must be held to fill the vacant seat within 90 days.

The reconstitution of the commission is already underway after the bipartisan talks between Ruto and Raila led to the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which saw the President sign into law the IEC (Amendment) Bill 2024. The IEBC selection committee, set to interview, vet and recommend the next IEBC chairperson and commissioners, is set to be gazetted by Tuesday next week. 

From left: Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga and Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during a past ODM event. (Photo: ODM)

If vetted and approved, Wandayi will have to resign from being a Member of Parliament. This will mean that the Ugunja sub-county will be subjected to a by-election. Upon his resignation, Wandayi will also cease to be the Minority leader.

Following his nomination as Energy CS, MP Wandayi expressed gratitude to President Ruto and party leader Raila for choosing him.

“Thank you, President 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,” he said.

For Mbadi, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) provides that if a nominated MP leaves office, the party to which the MP belonged must then write to the commission, notifying it of the vacancy.

The IEBC is then mandated to pick, from their existing list of nominees, the next in number to occupy the seat. 

Meanwhile, former Governor Joho also accepted his nomination and commended President Ruto for giving him a chance to serve Kenyans.

“It is with great humility and profound appreciation that I accept my nomination by H.E President Ruto for the position of Cabinet Secretary of Mining,Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Almighty Allah (SWT) for this opportunity to once again serve the great people of Kenya in a different capacity,” he said 

“Upon confirmation, I look forward to working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the Blue Economy, Mining and Maritime sectors take a leading role in the socio-economic transformation of our nation,” Joho added