Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has shared her experience of working with the Kenya Kwanza administration through the broad-based government arrangement.

In a statement on Saturday, August 31, 2024, Millie Odhiambo disclosed a complete shift in her political engagement unlike when she was out of the government arrangement.

To drive her point home, Millie recalled how she battled depression following the Presidential election loss to President William Ruto in August 2022.

According to the lawmaker, she could hardly sleep following the outcome of the presidential elections.

“Exactly two years ago at this time, I could hardly sleep from depression borne out of presidential election results,” Millie Odhiambo wrote.

However, after President Ruto dismissed his Cabinet Secretaries and reconstituted a broad-based government with a few of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members joining the Cabinet, her life took a complete turn.

“Right now am taking broad-based coffee, listening to broad-based music, under open broad-based skies in Kisumu,” Millie detailed.

She is among the local leaders who have accompanied President Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua for his Nyanza region tour.

Millie gains

Millie is among the beneficiaries of the broad-based government. After Opiyo Wandayi was appointed as Energy Cabinet Secretary, ODM fronted Suna East MP Junet Mohamed to replace Wandayi as Minority Leader in the National Assembly.

She was then picked the party to replace Junet as Minority Whip in the House.

The changes also saw Saboti lawmaker Caleb Amisi proposed for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson seat previously held by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, while Wilberforce Oundo was proposed to become the committee’s new Vice Chair.

Despite the changes, ODM has denied reports that it has entered into an agreement with the Kenya Kwanza administration. The Opposition Party has maintained that its members joined Ruto’s Cabinet on their volition.

Nonetheless, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has now declared himself the official Opposition Leader.