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MP Amisi echoes Governor Orengo’s call for ODM leaders to uphold party values

MP Amisi echoes Governor Orengo’s call for ODM leaders to uphold party values
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi. PHOTO/@Honcalebamisi/X
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Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has echoed Siaya County Governor James Orengo’s call for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders to uphold the party’s values.

Taking to his X account on Saturday, January 18, 2025, Amisi expressed his agreement with Orengo’s sentiments, emphasizing the need to challenge injustices irrespective of one’s position in government.

“Today, Orengo has raised my tempo higher. I am not alone in voice. Let’s not celebrate injustices under whatever circumstances in whichever position you are in government. Na ifikie ODM renegade soldiers!” Amisi wrote.

Governor Orengo had earlier given a speech during the funeral of Roseline Odede, the chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). The funeral, held in Uyoma, Rarieda Sub-County, provided a platform for Orengo to honour Odede’s legacy while reflecting on the importance of staying true to ODM’s founding principles.

Orengo highlighted the late Odede’s courage in speaking out against human rights abuses, including abductions and extrajudicial killings. 

He urged ODM leaders to prioritize integrity over convenience, warning of potential long-term repercussions if the party’s identity was compromised.

“We (ODM) have an identity. If you lose that identity for easy victories, we are going to pay for it in the future. If you must make compromises, you must make compromises on matters of principle. Do not be part of praise and worship,” Orengo said.

Siaya County Governor James Orengo speaking to mourners at Roseline Odede’s funeral in Uyoma, Rarieda Sub-county, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. PHOTO/@orengo_james/X
Siaya County Governor James Orengo speaking to mourners at Roseline Odede’s funeral in Uyoma, Rarieda Sub-county, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. PHOTO/@orengo_james/X

He further recounted Odede’s unwavering stand against injustices, even in the face of government retaliation.

“I want my conscience to be clear. When there were abductions, I said no to that. I am saying this because Roseline, this December, not three years ago, told the government to stop abductions and extrajudicial killings.

“And when she did that, they took away the money for the commission, and workers could not be paid. That is why I am saying, when there is too much sycophancy, people lose sight of their fundamentals,” he added.

House divided?

This comes barely a week after the ODM party’s acting leader, Anyang Nyong’o, dismissed claims of internal divisions, labelling them as media fabrications.

In a press statement issued on January 14, 2025, Nyong’o clarified that the Central Committee meeting held on January 10 was a routine gathering aimed at enhancing party democracy and concluded with consensus.

He reiterated that resolutions from the meeting were communicated transparently to Kenyans, emphasizing the party’s commitment to strengthening its internal democracy.

Nyong’o condemned media reports suggesting disagreements or physical altercations during the meeting, asserting that it was conducted in a spirit of unity and mutual respect.

He accused sections of the media of running a campaign to misrepresent ODM’s affairs, calling such claims baseless and a tactic by enemies of democracy to destabilize the party.

“I have, however, been shocked and dismayed by stories circulating in sections of the media, insinuating that there were disagreements, even going as far as alleging fistfights during the meeting. Let me categorically state that nothing could be further from the truth. The meeting was conducted in a spirit of camaraderie, mutual respect, and unity of purpose,” Ngong’o said.

The Kisumu Governor affirmed ODM’s unity, noting that the party was stronger and more united than ever.

He urged the media to provide fair and accurate coverage while acknowledging the importance of media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.

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