ODM to replace those who quit

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By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, June 16  2013 at  23:30

Leaders who left the Orange party before the March 4 elections will soon be replaced.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has initiated plans to replace, among others, former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

The party has called a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting early next month to discuss modalities of filling positions left vacant by Mr Mudavadi, former Co-operatives minister Joseph Nyagah, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara and Mahmoud Mohamed.

Mr Mudavadi was the party’s deputy leader before he ditched it to join the United Democratic Forum (UDF) on whose ticket he ran for the presidency.

Mr Nyagah was on the other hand the party’s national vice chairman before he ditched it to join the Jubilee coalition weeks before the polls while Mr Magara was the party’s treasurer before he quit it to join the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Mohamed was Mr Magara’s deputy before he also bolted out and joined deputy president William Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP).

A statement from the party indicated that the NGC will also fill the position of Executive Director whose previous holder, Ms Janet Ong’era is now a Nominated Senator.

The statement noted that the appointment of a new Executive Director will top the agenda of the NGC.

There have been quiet campaigns within and outside the party ranks to succeed Ms Ong’era with a powerful clique said to be lobbying hard to ensure a former staffer at the Prime Minister’s office and son of former Karachuonyo MP Ceaser Asiyo clinches the position.

Mr Asiyo is up against former Energy assistant minister Magerer Lagat, former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Trustee Naftali Mogere and party activists Nabii Nabwera and Kenneth Butiko, both from Western province.

Also in the race is a former ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during his days in the National Development Party (NDP), John Kiema from Kibwezi.

“The party has convened a National Governing Council meeting early next month to make a decision on the new executive director who will be announced after the vetting process by a panel of ODM youthful MPs led by Butere Legislator Andrew Toboso. The panel comprises six Members of Parliament,” the statement signed by ODM publicity officer Philip Etale stated.