Namwamba’s fire in the belly stirs up Raila camp

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba is at it again – exploiting a messy electoral situation to leave a mark on the political scene. 

During the charged MPs’ swearing-in ceremony on January 15, 2008, following the botched presidential poll, an emotional Namwamba swore allegiance to “Rais wa Jamhuri (President of the Republic) Amolo Raila Odinga, instead of Mwai Kibaki”.

And following a similar impasse, after Uhuru Kenyatta was declared President-elect, he has been most visible contesting the development at public rallies and within the corridors of justice. 

The Budalang’i MP-elect is also among CORD’s high-profile legal team challenging the decision by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to declare Uhuru as duly elected.

And many will also remember the recent night drama at Kenyatta University, where he was carried shoulder-high by rioting students, following suspicions that IEBC officials were “doctoring” poll results from one of the rooms in the varsity’s premises. The equally dynamic Suba MP-elect Millie Odhiambo accompanied the minister. 

That he is the PM’s key political lieutenant, with the drive to swiftly respond to matters touching on his interests at any time of the day or night, is not in doubt. In fact within the ODM) circles Namwamba has acquired a new nickname of “Jenerali” – the political commander.

Growing clout

Observers opine his political influence is growing fast, while colleagues from his western Kenya turf believe the second-term legislator could be the next big revelation after the current bigwigs, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Bungoma Senator-elect, Moses Wetangula.

Namwamba feels flattered by the suggestions but adds he has never really aspired to the title of regional kingpin.

“In fact I detest the very notion as it is antithesis to my nationalist philosophy. Until Kenya reaches a point where we embrace leaders for their real worth, devoid of those ethno-regional blinkers, ours will remain a deformed, if not stillborn democracy,” he says. His strong support for Raila notwithstanding, some regard him as the proverbial double-edged knife that cuts both sides. Noting he is close to the PM, critics accuse the Budalang’i MP of being antagonistic.   

Sources with the Amani Coalition claim as Mudavadi would have wished to team up with Raila in CORD, they are dissuaded by the Namwamba-factor.

An immediate former MP from Kakamega County explains that Namwamba and others “have created a wall around the PM and made it absolutely difficult for a possible Raila-Mudavadi re-union”.    

He says Luhya politicians allied to CORD including Namwamba may deliberately be trying to block the re-union of the former allies, for fear of being edged out. 

“Nothing could be further from the truth. Musalia himself would admit no one tried harder to keep him within the ODM fold than Namwamba. When he convened his first-ever forum for ODM Western leaders at Vokoli in his Sabatia constituency in March, last year, I attended and urged my brother to pursue his ambitions within the Orange kraal, which I described as his ‘safest haven’ to make a serious bid for the country’s top leadership,” reacts Namwamba. 

But Mudavadi declined and Namwamba says he was not surprised at his poor showing in the election claiming he had predicted it. Mudavadi, he says, misread the mood of the people, and underestimated the resolve of the Luhya nation to be part of the bigger agenda of a better Kenya for all, “epitomised by the decades-old struggle of Raila Odinga”.

Big brother

“Suffice it to say, Musalia remains my big brother that I still respect. I still hope he can lead his UDF/Amani team into partnership with CORD, which still holds the promise of real transformation for many Kenyans. Whatever happens, though, I do wish my brother well,” he says.

But even in his own Busia County, the straight-talking politician has ruffled feathers. Owing to his influence and closeness to the PM and other national party leaders, he is being accused among other things of not fighting for Busia’s rightful share of the Orange cake and frustrating careers of local politicians. 

An immediate former director of Youth Fund Susan Mang’eni is particularly furious with the minister, who she accuses of meddling with her nomination to Parliament. Initially, listed in the second position on the ODM nomination list, an elated Mang’eni threw a party to friends last December and campaigned for Raila in Busia. But early this week she was inconsolable upon realising her name had been substituted.     

The vocal politician is also accused of mismanaging the ODM campaigns in the county, leading to the election of two MPs from the rival URP. Denying involvement in Mange’ni’s debacle, Namwamba maintains Busia is still an Orange county having delivered over 90 percent of the presidential vote to the Prime Minister.