ODM members in Nairobi approve Winnie Odinga as the party’s deputy leader

ODM leaders led by Makadara Member of Parliament, George Aladwa, have proposed amending the party’s constitution to create a fourth position of deputy leader to be reserved for women, with Winnie Odinga being named as the most preferred candidate.
All 17 constituencies in Nairobi supported Winnie’s nomination, with Aladwa saying she will fill the gap left by the absence of Raila Odinga in the party’s National Leadership Council (NEC).
Winnie Odinga accepted the proposal, pledged allegiance to ODM, and indicated his readiness to take up the position before the Special Meeting of Delegates scheduled for March 27

Member of the East African Parliament (EALA), Winnie Odingahas been named as the most suitable to hold the position of deputy leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

ODM leader and Siaya senator Oburu Oginga addressing the party’s last meeting. Photo: ODM.
Source: Facebook

The group led by Makadara Member of Parliament, George Aladwa, said it will press for the amendment of the party’s constitution to create a fourth position of deputy leader of the party which will be reserved for women.

Currently, ODM has three deputy party leaders.

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Aladwa said Winnie has every qualification to be among the top leaders of the party, and so they will continue to press for her to be included in its leadership.

According to him, he will take the position left vacant by the deceased Raila Odingawho Aladwa said represented Nairobi in the party’s National Leadership Council (NEC).

All 17 constituencies represented in the meeting supported the idea.

“We have been holding meetings for the past two months. We want to have representatives in the leadership of the party, because each region has its representatives.

Father Raila Odinga died and left us without a representative from Nairobi. Now like Nairobi, and all the 17 electoral regions, we have recommended EALA Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga to represent us and be among the party’s deputy leaders,” said Aladwa while getting the approval of the members.

Winnie seemed to accept the proposal, a situation that marks her separation from the rebel group led by the Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

He vowed not to leave the party, saying it was built over many years by his late father.

“I was called by our chairman and told me that it was about the issues of the party in Nairobi, I did not know that I would be nominated. But as the Nairobians have planned, then we will continue like that and I will take that responsibility,” he said.

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The decision of the delegates took place before the National Delegates Conference (NDC) scheduled for March 27.

On March 6, ODM issued an official notice to convene a Special Delegates Meeting in Nairobi.

This marked the beginning of a potentially important period for the party in the post-Raila Odinga era, as it faces increasing internal leadership conflicts and questions about the future of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna in his position as secretary general.

In an official notice, ODM Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo announced that a Special Meeting of Delegates will be held on Friday, March 27, starting at three in the morning.

The meeting has been convened in accordance with the constitution of the ODM party and will bring together senior officials and representatives from various party structures across the country.

The notice states that those expected to attend include members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), party MPs, governors and deputy governors associated with ODM, chairmen of branch executive committees, leaders of county coordination committees, as well as majority and minority leaders in county assemblies.

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Also invited are national officials from the ODM Youth Union, the Women’s Union, and the Disabled People’s Union, as well as members of standing committees and representatives appointed from counties and branches, including those representing marginalized communities.

Other members will come from the party’s branches, while the final number will be decided by the National Executive Committee.

The agenda released before the meeting shows that members will discuss important issues related to the leadership and governance of the party.

One of the things that will be discussed is the adoption of the resolution of the National Leadership Council regarding the leadership of ODM.

Members will also review the resolution passed by the National Executive Committee in relation to Article 87 of the ODM constitution.

The day’s schedule will include formal activities such as prayers, adoption of the agenda, speeches from party leaders, and party leader’s speech.

However, what seems to be missing from the schedule is the election of party officials.

The call for the meeting was increasing from some leaders who claimed that only a meeting of members can justify major decisions, including those concerning the leadership of the party.

Among those who voiced the opposition was Winnie Odinga, the daughter of the late ODM leader, who criticized the changes that took place within the party after her father’s death.