Raila to chair top organ as party warns of rush succession race

ODM has put on notice members engaging in premature succession politics as the outfit navigates a delicate transition.

Chairman John Mbadi on Wednesday asked ODM lawmakers to desist from unnecessary politics saying the move is polarising.

This is even as Opposition Chief Raila Odinga has scheduled an ODM top decision making organ meeting to address the factional wars and set new dates for grassroots elections.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday next week.

During a media briefing, Mbadi said the party will not take lightly attempts destabilise it.

 “A few weeks ago, Party leader Raila Odinga indicated that he will be pursuing interests beyond the country.  Since then, a number of people have expressed interests in going  for various leadership positions,” he said.

“A robust debate has ensued on how best we can ensure that the top leadership of the party is broad and inclusive enough to take care of the very diverse party membership and interest base.”

“As chairman and in consultation with the Party leader, we are proud of the massive interest but I however appeal to our people, those who want to lead and those who simply want the party to remain strong to exercise caution, restraint and moderation,” Mbadi said.

There has been a vicious power fights in the party as leaders plot on how to outdo each other and takeover the leadership.

Mbadi's warning appeared to have targeted Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who have expressed interest in the seat.

The MPs’ interests came days after Raila endorsed Oparanya and Joho to take over from him should he succeed in his quest for the AU Commission chairmanship.

“I want to debunk very strongly this notion, this false narrative of something akin to what we call duopoly in marketing that if by any chance a vacancy arises in the leadership of ODM, then it will be for two persons to compete, nothing could be further from the truth,” Wandayi said.

 “I may present my name for that position. As you all know, I have studied Baba [Raila] since I was 20 years old and now I am 50. This is a long time so nothing stops me from presenting my name for such a position if it were to fall vacant, an eventuality that I don’t foresee now and in the near future.’’

But on Wednesday, Mbadi said the two deputy party leaders – Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho – are in charge in the absence of Raila.

He said the jostling witnessed in the recent weeks is not in the best interest of the party.

“I call on fellow leaders and those aspiring to lead to ensure their actions and utterances unite the party. I call on the two deputy party leaders, who are tested and tried in their own right, to provide leadership at this critical moment as we wait for guidance on the next steps,” Mbadi said.

The nominated lawmaker said any succession process will follow the laid down party processes at appropriate time.

“A few processes will have to kick in, in line with the party’s constitution, before the party can declare election date,” Mbadi said.

Mbadi also disclosed that Raila will on Tuesday next week chair Central Management Committee, where the new dates of the grassroots elections will be announced.

“We are having Central Management Committee on Tuesday next week to take decision whether we will hold grass roots elections as planned, we may not have elections in April as was planned,” Mbadi said.