ODM picks Junet Mohamed as House Minority Leader, Millie Odhiambo as Minority Whip
Junet Mohamed and Millie Odhiambo.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has made key changes in its National Assembly House and committee leadership following the nomination of its members to the Cabinet.
The development follows a resolution by the party’s Central Management Committee meeting Wednesday chaired by the former premier.
The proposed changes, subject to communication from Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, see Suna East MP Junet Mohamed elevated to the minority leader position in place of Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who is nominated to the Energy docket.
A three-term MP, Mr Mohamed is a close ally of Mr Odinga and is one of few ODM leaders in the former prime minister’s inner circle.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo will now take over as the Minority Whip position, succeeding the Suna East MP.
Ms Odhiambo has been in the National Assembly since the 2007 elections, starting off as a nominated MP before clinching the Mbita (now Suba North) seat.
Vocal and loyal member of ODM party, the 57-year-old has been one of strongest lieutenants of Mr Odinga in the National Assembly, and a fierce critic of the government.
Popularly known as “Amillo Gesa Gesa" (loosely translated as “the best of the best”), the lawmaker has never shied away from controversial statements with her latest being, “good girls don’t get the corner office.”
At the committee level, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi will be taking over as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee left behind by nominated MP John Mbadi. Mr Mbadi has been nominated as a CS of Treasury and National Planning.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo will take up the position of the vice chairperson of the Public Investments Committee (PIC), a position where Mr Amisi was holding.
The changes come after the members, nominated to the Cabinet, presented their resignation letters to the party.
The changes come in the midst of widening splits within the Azimio coalition following the nomination of its members to the cabinet.
Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna on Wednesday said the names of the proposed leaders will be presented to the Azimio parliamentary group for approval.
“That in the wake of the vacancies occasioned by the nominations, the Party shall be embarking on wide consultations amongst its membership in order to fill those vacancies,” said Mr Sifuna.
The party has also announced it is carrying out wide consultations before announcing a replacement for other positions including Mr Odinga’s two deputies, Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho.
The two former governors are poised to join the Cabinet as ministers for Mining and Blue Economy and Cooperatives, respectively.
Ms Beatrice Askul Moe, who served as a member of the Party Elections Board, is also set to be replaced following her nomination as a Cabinet Secretary for East African Community affairs.
The Orange party also said it made the decision to release the members from the party to discharge their roles in government subject to approval by the National Assembly.
Mr Sifuna said the party is still a member of the Azimio coalition and has not made any coalition agreement with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“We reiterate that there is no agreement of any nature between ODM and Kenya Kwanza,” said the Nairobi senator.
“ODM therefore remains a member of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition and will continue to play its opposition role alongside other parties to push for accountability, transparency and equity in governance and public affairs,” he added.
