Why ODM has Disowned Party Nominees to Ruto Cabinet
Fears that the nomination of ODM pillars into the Cabinet had unsettled some supporters prompted Raila Odinga to deploy a multi-pronged strategy to address the criticism.
Upon returning to the country on Wednesday evening, Raila convened a meeting with some of his allies at the home of a key former Jubilee operative to devise a strategy.
The meeting, attended by top ODM leaders, including new CS nominees from the party, also addressed concerns about dissatisfaction within the ranks.
It is understood that one of the nominees had protested aggressively, feeling shortchanged after being assigned a different “lighter” docket than initially agreed upon.
The nominee felt unsettled after being promised one of the plum dockets, which was ultimately handed to an ODM colleague despite earlier assurances.
Fears of backlash from a section of Kenyans, including youthful protesters who pushed for government changes, forced ODM to re-strategize.
After the session, ODM decided to disown the members named to the Cabinet, insisting 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 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 this has been misconstrued as a dialogue between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
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This stance contrasts sharply with past statements from the party organs, 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 stated in a release on July 12 after the Central Management Committee meeting.
The following day, Ruto’s offer to form a broad-based government, combined with subsequent party organ meetings and the aborted Azimio press briefing on July 17, suggested a deal with Ruto.
ODM leaders had snubbed a press briefing by Azimio leaders, led by Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, following the party’s parliamentary group and NEC meeting.
Kalonzo was attacked by goons who stormed the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, the venue of the Azimio briefing.
It has now emerged that ODM is cautiously collaborating with President Ruto while publicly denying it, which analysts say is a strategy to manage other interests.
Part of this strategy was evident on Tuesday when Sifuna released a statement insisting the party was not in talks with President Ruto for forming a government of national unity.
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“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 emphasized the party’s commitment to its principles and ongoing struggle for a better Kenya.
Raila, while in Dubai, also released a series of demands to the government before any dialogue, exposing his inconsistency given the party’s previous approval for talks with President Ruto.
These conditions included compensation to families of victims of extra-judicial executions and those injured by the state since last year, the release of all detained persons, and the termination of cases related to protests since last year.
ODM also demanded the prosecution of policemen involved in shooting or maiming protesters and the sacking of Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei.
“Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national conversation, conducted transparently in a neutral venue,” Raila said on July 21.
The entire strategy aims to consolidate and protect ODM’s legacy built over decades while avoiding upsetting young people and critics.
By denying claims that ODM has joined the government, the party is also protecting its minority positions in Parliament, which come with significant benefits.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, 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 argue that by appointing 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.
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Political analysts suggest Raila’s team is fighting back against claims of joining the government to alleviate supporters’ concerns and fend off allegations of betraying the opposition cause.
“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 managing the damage such an arrangement will have on its supporters and credentials,” said political analyst Alexander Nyamboga.
Nyamboga noted that over time, Raila’s ODM is expected to cooperate with Kenya Kwanza on various 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.
Concerns have arisen about whether ODM will have the moral authority to oversee the executive while some of its members serve in the Cabinet.
Raila’s ODM party, the second largest political party, anchors the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, the minority side in Parliament.
The constitution is unclear on the new arrangement where the President picked opposition members for the Cabinet, and it does not foresee the implications.
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 implies that ODM members in Ruto’s Cabinet would be presumed to have joined the government in their capacities.
This would allow ODM to continue enjoying the benefits accrued to the minority side in Parliament.
Why ODM has Disowned Party Nominees to Ruto Cabinet
