John Mbadi Intensifies Storm In ODM, Threatens To Quit

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has been thrown into deeper trouble after its chairman, John Mbadi, expressed his desire to quit his position.

Speaking at Parliament buildings, the ODM politician called for the appointment of a vice-chair in the party to succeed him in case he leaves his post.

Mbadi however pointed out that he would continue serving at ODM in whatever capacity thereafter, clarifying that he was still affiliated with the party.

“I am not a person to run away from the office before we get good succession, I want to be succeeded, and I will still serve the party in whatever capacity.

Nominated MP John Mbadi speaking during a past address. /FILE

"You know some people think being a chair is something I am dying for. Far from the truth, I have done my bit,” he stated.

Mbadi further added that being the chairman did not cast his role in the party in stone and expressed his desire to leave the position, having held it for nine years. He offered it to anyone who was capable enough to replace him.

"I am still alive, they can take away the chairmanship and I will still be alive. I want to repeat it for the record, I want to leave the position of ODM chair.

“Those who think being chairman is so important to them let them offer themselves to lead, I am very ready to leave the position to them, right now I am the chair but I am not dying to be the chair, I have done by bit they took away my position as the minority leader," Mbadi pointed out. 

This comes at the same time the nine ODM MPs who had earlier met President William Ruto at State House uncovered details of the meeting which also included Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

These included Shakeel Shabir (Independent - Kisumu Town East), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Paul Abuor (Rongo) and Phelix Odiwuor (Jalang'o), with the meeting unsettling the ODM party which issued a hard-hitting statement.

“We are not rebelling against the party. We never talked about politics, but development; these are two different things and we will continue following our party,” Ochanda stated.

On his part, Jalang'o noted that among the topics discussed in the meeting included the affordable housing project in his constituency as well as priority projects the government should embark on, including the Highrise ward and the completion of the Lang'ata Technical and Vocational and Education Training (TVET) institution.

Despite calls by some leaders in the party for disciplinary action, the leader of the Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi asked the members not to berate their colleagues, adding that they were free to make their own decisions.

"Dewhipping any leader is not our agenda. We are not in the mood of punishing anyone. It is in order to take stock of the gains we have made and the possible losses we might have incurred since we went for the long recess,” he noted.

“We have made it very clear that we want every Azimio MP to attend, of course, there might be cases that are beyond our control. We can’t assume that all those not attending are rebelling."

President William Ruto meets Nyanza leaders at State House on February 7, 2023. /PCS