ODM to suffer body blow if Gusii leaders make real quit threat

Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party could suffer a major blow if a section of its members from the Gusii region make good their threat of ditching the party.

This is after a section of Kisii ODM MPs raised concerns about alleged discrimination within the Orange party, calling for equal treatment of the Omogusii community, which they assert has played a significant role in building and supporting the party.

The lawmakers have cited issues of ‘discrimination, unfulfilled promises, and the treatment of their elected leaders as second-class members’ by the party leadership.

The leaders Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu) and United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s Charles Onchoke (Bonchari) cited unfair representation in parliamentary committees as a key grievance.

“We have genuinely been very patient and respectful, despite extended periods of discrimination. Members of the public and our supporters should know the extent of this disparity,” said Kibagendi during a press briefing in Nairobi on Saturday.

Kibagendi pointed out that in the 13th Parliament, only three MPs from the Kisii region—himself, Barongo and Onchoke serve on single committees. In contrast, ODM MPs from other regions hold up to three committee memberships each.

According to Kibagendi, no legislator from Gusii serves as a chairperson or vice-chairperson in any committee in either the National Assembly or the Senate.

“Despite our unwavering loyalty to the party, we have been relegated to minor roles while others enjoy undue privileges,” charged Kibagendi.

Kibagendi also narrated the party’s failure to honor previous agreements with the Gusii community.

He referenced an unwritten pact within ODM that, following the resignation of several leaders who took up Cabinet Secretary positions, the Minority Leadership in Parliament would be restructured.

Kibagendi claims that the agreement entailed Junet Mohammed (Suna East ) becoming the Leader of the Minority, while a leader from Gusii would assume the Minority Whip position, an arrangement he avers that was never fulfilled.