Why ODM has disowned party nominees to Ruto Cabinet

 

Azimio leader Raila Odinga speaks on the steps of KICC after witnessing the signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill, 2024 by President William Ruto

Fears that the nomination of ODM pillars into the Cabinet had unsettled some supporters have forced Raila Odinga to deploy a multi-pronged strategy to quell criticism.

Hours after jetting into the country on Wednesday evening, Raila held talks with some of his allies at the home of a key former Jubilee operative to craft a strategy.

The meeting which was attended by a section of top ODM leaders including the new CS nominees from the party also addressed jitters of disaffection with the ranks.

The Star understands that one of the nominees had aggressively protested that he had been assigned a different ''lighter'' docket than the one that had been agreed on.

The nominee was unsettled that he was shortchanged after initially being promised one of the plum dockets finally handed to his ODM colleague despite earlier assurances.

These jitters and the fears of a backlash from a section of Kenyans including the youthful protesters that engineered the far-reaching changes in government, forced ODM to re-strategise.

After the session, it has now emerged that ODM has decided to disown the members named to the Cabinet insisting that they accepted the slots in their capacity and that the party was not consulted.

"The truth of the matter is that there is no decision of any organ of ODM that I sit in to join the Ruto government," ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said on Thursday morning.

The Nairobi Senator claimed that there has been a deliberate effort to paint the ODM party in a bad light since Raila attended the signing of the IEBC Bill into law at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

He said the ODM party has only called for a national conversation but that has been turned to mean a dialogue between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

This is a stark contrast to statements released by the party organs in the past which welcomed President Ruto's offer for a broad-based government and national dialogue.

"There is no table ODM will not go to if the destiny of our nation is the main agenda," ODM had said in a statement released on July 12 after the Central Management Committee meeting.

Coming a day after Ruto offered the formation of the broad-based government and given the subsequent meetings of the party organs and the aborted press briefing of Azimio bigwigs on July 17 gave credence to a deal with Ruto. 

ODM leaders had on the same day snubbed a press briefing by Azimio leaders led by Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka moments after the party's parliamentary group and NEC meeting.

Kalonzo was roughed up by goons who stormed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, the venue of the Azimio briefing.

It has now emerged that ODM is cautiously collaborating with President Ruto while denying the same in public in what analysts say is a strategy to manage other interests. 

The grand strategy was deployed partly on Tuesday when Sifuna released a terse statement insisting that the party was not in talks with President Ruto for the formation of a government of national unity.

"As a Party, we wish to make it unequivocally clear that we are not in negotiations with the Ruto regime for any coalition or political arrangement," Sifuna said on July 23.

"Any ODM member who makes themselves available to join the Kenya Kwanza cabinet or any other position should know that they do so without the blessing or support of the Party." 

He said the party remains committed to its principles and the ongoing struggle for a better Kenya.

"We will continue to stand with the people and fight for the justice and reforms our nation desperately needs."

Raila, who has been in Dubai, had also on Sunday released a raft of fresh demands to the government before any dialogue exposing his flip flop given that party organ had approved talks with President Ruto.

The conditions included compensation to the families of the victims of extra-judicial executions and persons injured by the state since last year release of all persons in custody and termination of all cases related to protests since last year.

ODM also wanted prosecution of policemen involved in shooting to kill or maim protestors and the sacking of the Nairobi Police Commander, Adamson Bungei.

"Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national conversation, and conducted transparently in a neutral venue," Raila said on July 21.

The whole script, it would now appear, is aimed at consolidating and protecting the ODM's legacy built over decades while not upsetting the young people and critics as well.

By denouncing claims that the ODM party has joined the government, the party is also protecting its minority positions in Parliament which enjoys huge benefits.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who was picked as CS for Energy and Petroleum is the Minority leader in the National Assembly while John Mbadi(National Treasury) is the ODM chairperson and chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

However, critics say that by tapping ODM linchpins including the two deputy party leaders, Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, and the chairperson, President Ruto left no doubt that he had Raila's blessings.

Political analysts say Raila's men have decided to fight back claims that the party has joined the government to assuage jitters in their supporters and fend off allegations of betrayal to the opposition course.

"There is no doubt that there have been talks between the President and the ODM leader that led to the unveiling of the names on Wednesday, what the party leaders are doing is to manage the damage that such an arrangement will have to its supporters and credentials," argued political analyst Alexandar Nyamboga.

Nyamboga noted that with time, Raila's ODM is expected to cooperate with Kenya Kwanza on a number of issues including legislative and budget proposals in Parliament.

"Nobody should dream that the naming of ODM troops was out of the blues, it was a result of protracted negotiations between Raila and Ruto," he said.

There have been concerns if ODM will have the moral authority to oversight the executive yet some of its members are serving in Cabinet.

Raila's ODM party is the second largest political party and is the anchor member of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, the minority side in Parliament.

The constitution is not clear on the new arrangement in which the President picked members of the opposition to join the Cabinet and does not envisage what will happen.

Analysts say that without any coalition agreement with Kenya Kwanza, ODM remains a member of the minority side in Parliament.

"The leader of the minority party shall be the person who is the leader of the National Assembly of the second largest party or coalition of parties,'' reads Article 108(3) of the Constitution.

This means that the ODM men in Ruto's Cabinet would be presumed to have joined the government in their individual capacities.

This would allow ODM to continue enjoying an array of benefits accrued to the minority side in Parliament.

by JAMES MBAKA