Azimio leader Raila Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation on July 26, 2023, during a candle lighting vigil in honour of protesters who died.
The Orange Democratic Movement is in a state of turmoil, casting a shadow on the opposition party’s plans to work with the government of President William Ruto.
Top ODM leaders are divided on whether or not to join a broad-based government promised by President William Ruto after he dismissed his Cabinet on July 11 but retained Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who doubles up as the CS Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
While some leaders have welcomed the move, others see it as a betrayal of the Kenyan people.
Although the party supports national dialogue, Mr Odinga on Sunday, July 21, came up with fresh conditions in addition to the resolutions made during last week’s joint ODM National Executive Committee and Parliamentary Group meeting, further complicating the situation.
Mr Odinga wants the welfare of health workers and Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers addressed. He has also called for the scrapping of the Social Health Insurance Fund and a return to the National Health Insurance Fund scheme.
Police brutality
The other preconditions are compensation for victims of police brutality during the anti-government demos, the dropping of all protest-related cases and the release of all the people who were abducted and detained during the protests.
The former prime minister also called for the prosecution of security agents who were involved in atrocities against protesters.
“Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national conversation at a neutral venue,” Mr Odinga wrote in an unsigned statement posted on his X account, formerly Twitter.
The ODM chief proposed that representatives of the youth, government, religious leaders, health professionals, lawyers and teachers take part in the talks.
“We must come together to discuss critical national and constitutional issues touching on good governance, the skyrocketing cost of living, eradicating tribalism, fighting corruption and debt and fiscal management,” he said.
Mr Odinga expressed his admiration for Gen Zs who led the anti-government protests. He said structured dialogue will bring about the reforms they are fighting for and secure Kenya’s future.
But even as Mr Odinga is upbeat about the talks, President Ruto yesterday appeared to have engaged a different gear, stating that the youth had rejected a national dialogue.
Dialogue
“They invited me for talks on X but they ran away, they have rejected my calls for dialogue and they continue to say they are faceless and formless. I have given a chance to everybody to say whatever they want,” the President said in Bomet County on Sunday, July 21.
“It cannot continue like this. The country is much more important than any group of people. We must come together as a nation, protect our nation and make sure that Kenya is a democracy,” he added.
As Dr Ruto grapples with trying to steady the Kenya Kwanza ship, his hopes of incorporating some members of the opposition in his government are facing turbulence.
Government insiders have indicated that the President wants to complete naming his Cabinet this week.
Last Friday Dr Ruto included six former ministers in his partial Cabinet of 11. They are Aden Duale (Defence), Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Davies Chirchir (moved to Transport from Energy), Soipan Tuya (Environment), Rebecca Miano (former CS Trade proposed for Attorney-General’s position) and Alice Wahome (Lands). That has not gone down well in some quarters.
The Nation has established that President Ruto has offered Mr Odinga at least five Cabinet slots.
The divisions in ODM are said to have caused the delay in presenting the party’s names of Cabinet hopefuls to Dr Ruto. In addition, ODM’s partners in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition have declined to join the government.
On Sunday, July 21, a senior ODM official told the Nation that because of the stalemate, there are fears that some party stalwarts could accept Dr Ruto’s Cabinet offers “even without Raila’s blessings.”
Vile vitu zinaendelea, ndugu yangu nakuambia wengine watanyakua hizi wizara. (The way things are looking my brother, I’m telling you some people will grab these Cabinet slots),” the official told the Nation.
Some ODM officials being touted for Cabinet slots are deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya as well as national chairman John Mbadi.
Former governors Mr Joho (Mombasa) and Mr Oparanya (Kakamega) have been angling to succeed Mr Odinga should he succeed in becoming the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson in the election to be held next year.
Democratic Action Party of Kenya deputy party leader Ayub Savula said Mr Joho and Mr Oparanya deserve the slots.
“I support Joho and Oparanya to sit in the Cabinet. Let the other Azimio party members remain in the opposition to keep the government in check,” the Kakamega Deputy Governor said.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, an ally of Mr Joho, said it is time for the county to be rewarded with a Cabinet slot.
“We want a person from Mombasa to be appointed to the Cabinet. You (Dr Ruto) have tried elsewhere and the ones you picked failed. Now it’s time to appoint one of our own,” he said.
But Siaya Governor James Orengo, an ally of Mr Odinga, insisted that Kenya Kwanza is a sinking ship.
“Joining President Ruto is a disaster. In fact, it is an abomination because it cannot work as the President has lost the confidence of the international community and the vision he had for Kenyans, if any, was now a mirage,” Mr Orengo charged.
Political analyst Martin Oloo argued that it is now apparent that Mr Odinga is not having a good time “in his bromance with Ruto.”
“It’s obvious that not many of his supporters are going to be in agreement with him.
“Formation of a government of national unity is a red herring and a diversion. It doesn’t help us and our issues. Those who want to join the government are talking about their stomachs,” he said.
Political analyst Herman Manyora said a decision by Mr Odinga to join the government would be counterproductive.
“The wrangling in ODM shows this is a wrong move. The other reason is greed. Some of these people can’t resist the temptation of flying a flag,” he said.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said he will stick with the people.
Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe said talks are important but key issues must be addressed.
“We agree about a national convention but we are against getting into government to sanitise Kenya Kwanza,” he told Nation.
