A major split has been witnessed in the ODM party due to the 2022 Nyanza succession politics and moreso the Siaya county gubernatorial seat
Different camps have emerged within the party, with one being led by Siaya Senator James Orengo and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, while the other is overseen by ODM chairman John Mbadi, MP Opiyo Wandayi and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.
Mbadi’s team has inclined towards standing with their Party leader while Orengo’s team has stated that it will stand for the truth.
The loopholes emerged after Orengo and Otiende challenged the legality of the 70 constituencies provided in the BBI.
Mbadi’s team was not pleased by their contrary opinion, saying that it was going against the party position, which required its members to pass the BBI bill as it is.
A casualty has already emerged out of the war; this is Otiende Amollo who was ejected out of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee(JLAC) on grounds of insubordination to ODM.
“The party position is that supreme even in mature democracies, let alone our Jua Kali democracy,.. those who against the party position should be ready for consequences,” Junet Mohammed said in an interview with Citizen TV.
Even as reports of Orengo’s ouster as the minority leader in the Senate, he has stood unbowed, saying that he cannot be intimidated nor directed at his work.
“I can never be intimated in my political life because I have seen many people come and go. I have seen Presidents come here and go. I have seen people who on their words you will leave this house and be locked in the same day, they have come and gone,” Orengo told a senate sitting on Thursday evening.
However, Kivumbi.co.ke has established that it is not only the BBI that is causing the division, but also the Luo-Nyanza Succession politics.
A section of top ODM leaders has accused Orengo of sabotaging the party so as to shortchange Raila and take over as the Luo Nyanza kingpin.
Locals have said that Mbadi’s actions are leaning towards MP Opiyo Wandayi’s ambitions to take over the Siaya county gubernatorial seat in 2022.
It has emerged that Wandayi could face Siaya Senator James Orengo in the gubernatorial race.
By kicking out Otiendo Amollo, it is believed the plan is to weaken Orengo’s side ahead of the 2020 elections.
