• Officers issue 14-day ultimatum to Emuhaya MP to respond to call for action, resign or face ouster.
• Mudavadi left the party in the hands of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.
Image: MOSES ODHIAMBO
A fresh row has rocked Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress party amid calls for the resignation of secretary general Omboko Milemba.
A section of top officials – including members of the party’s executive and national council – want the secretary out on grounds of lethargy.
The team, comprising largely top officials from Nairobi, joined by their counterparts from Kakamega, made the resolve after a meeting in Nairobi.
The group, led by the party’s political affairs director Fred Omulo, gave Milemba 14 days to respond to their concerns or face removal.
“We have given the secretary general an ultimatum of 14 days to show-cause why he should not be dismissed. If not, we will take over and run the party,” he said.
He told journalists in Nairobi that the Friday meeting was informed by complaints by members “asking pertinent issues as to why the party is not vibrant”.
Omulo said among concerns by members were that it could be assumed that the party is folding in the wake of the lull among members of the top team.
He said the party members's concerns are that the ANC has not had activities for the past one year since the new officials took over.
“They are asking us if we are folding. Since we elected Omboko as the secretary general, the party has been silent and went moribund,” Omulo said.
The officials said the Emuhaya MP "should state whether he is too busy in his current role as MP that he cannot offer his leadership as secretary general."
“Is he sleeping with our opponents? Does he want the party folded? He needs to know that only members can give way forward.”
He said that after the 14 days elapse, they would invite council members to choose a new secretary.
“In 14 days we will invite council members to choose a new secretary. Thereafter, we will have a nationwide election. We have capable members, including myself,” Omulo said.
He was flanked by party members from Nairobi and Kakamega who also called out ANC chairman Kelvin Lunani for being inactive.
Milemba did not respond to calls and SMS from the Star concerning the issues raised.
He assumed office in May last year after President William Ruto appointed Simon Gikuru as Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy.
After his appointment, Milemba told the ANC leadership his plan was to discuss with the relevant party organs with a view to activating branches across the country.
But party insiders hold that none of the activities have picked up, a year later, and they are running out of patience.
Their other concern is that the officials could be taking advantage of the exit of Mudavadi from the party owing to his role as Cabinet Secretary to advance other agendas.
Mudavadi left the political outfit in the hands of Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.
David Ndakwa, Kakamega minority leader, said they will not allow any moves to dissolve ANC, saying it is the vehicle they would use for 2032 presidential elections.
He said ANC as party is alive and kicking “but must be made more active that it is today.”
“I still believe we can have Musalia Mudavadi vying as president in 2032. Our officials must thus know we are in competition with other parties to get power. The statement we have made here should be heard,” Ndakwa said.
ANC lost key members to the Eugene Wamalwa-led DAP-Kenya ahead of the 2022 general election as well as to UDA, with which it later formed a coalition.
“This is not a church where we speak with leaders softly. They must wake up, be vibrant and resilient. Secretary generals should be active and alive to showcase that ANC is alive.”
The officials said they are concerned that the party’s numbers in Parliament and the various county assemblies would take a downward trend if the situation is not changed.
The party currently has only eight members in Parliament, including woman representative Beatrice Adagala and Joseph Hamisi (nominated).
Other MPs include Charles Gimose (Hamisi), Ikana Lusuli (Shinyalu), Injendi Malulu (Malava), Ernest Kagesi (Vihiga), Omboko (Emuhaya) and Tandaza Kassim (Matuga).
In the 2017 general election, ANC got 14 seats in Parliament with more than 60 MCAs, as well as the Nyamira governor seat after the demise of then county chief John Nyagarama.
Tindi Mwale, Omboko, Titus Khamala, Sakwa Bunyasi, Alfred Agoi, Oku Kaunya, Ernest Kagesi, Alfred Sambu, Aseka Miradi, Kassim Tandaza and Ayub Savula were among ANC MPs in the 12th parliament.