The Orange Democratic Movement has reinstated Homa Bay
Assembly Majority Leader Richard Ogindo and his deputy Ruth Ombura. The party
Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Tuesday disowned the purported ouster of the
two leaders, effectively returning them to office. Ward representatives on
Saturday convened a press conference where they declared that they had ejected
the two senior assembly members. The 31 members of the county assembly said
they had voted to oust Ogindo and Ombura. Led by Deputy Speaker Evance Marieba,
the MCAs said the two would be replaced by Kanyadoto MCA Walter Muok (leader of
majority) and Homabay Town Central MCA Julius Nyambok (deputy majority leader).
But Sifuna said the party will convene a stakeholder’s meeting to iron out
issues pitting the leaders against the MCAs. “While my office attempts to
ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the actions taken by the members, we
urge that the status quo ante be reverted to immediately. Know if news is
factual and true. Text ‘NEWS’ to 22840 and always receive verified news
updates. This will also avail opportunity to my office to convene a
stakeholders meeting in the next two weeks to iron out the underlying
issues,” said Sifuna in a statement. The MCAs had accused Ogindo of
demonstrating poor leadership and disrespecting elected leaders in the county.
But Ogindo dismissed the ouster and insisted he and his deputy were still in
office. He further criticised the impeachment process as unprocedural and
unacceptable. “I am still the majority leader and I am not aware of any
ouster. My colleagues followed an undue process,” said Ogindo.?
Assembly Majority Leader Richard Ogindo and his deputy Ruth Ombura. The party
Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Tuesday disowned the purported ouster of the
two leaders, effectively returning them to office. Ward representatives on
Saturday convened a press conference where they declared that they had ejected
the two senior assembly members. The 31 members of the county assembly said
they had voted to oust Ogindo and Ombura. Led by Deputy Speaker Evance Marieba,
the MCAs said the two would be replaced by Kanyadoto MCA Walter Muok (leader of
majority) and Homabay Town Central MCA Julius Nyambok (deputy majority leader).
But Sifuna said the party will convene a stakeholder’s meeting to iron out
issues pitting the leaders against the MCAs. “While my office attempts to
ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the actions taken by the members, we
urge that the status quo ante be reverted to immediately. Know if news is
factual and true. Text ‘NEWS’ to 22840 and always receive verified news
updates. This will also avail opportunity to my office to convene a
stakeholders meeting in the next two weeks to iron out the underlying
issues,” said Sifuna in a statement. The MCAs had accused Ogindo of
demonstrating poor leadership and disrespecting elected leaders in the county.
But Ogindo dismissed the ouster and insisted he and his deputy were still in
office. He further criticised the impeachment process as unprocedural and
unacceptable. “I am still the majority leader and I am not aware of any
ouster. My colleagues followed an undue process,” said Ogindo.?