ODM’s Kipchumba Kimuge sworn in to replace John Mbadi in Parliament
By Steve Ireri, July 29, 2025Harold Kipchumba Kimuge has officially taken his oath of office as a nominated member of the National Assembly, stepping into the seat vacated by former ODM Chairman John Mbadi following his appointment as Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury.
Kimuge, nominated under the Persons with Disabilities category, now joins the 13th Parliament as a representative of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), after his name was gazetted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
His swearing-in follows a special gazette notice published on Thursday, July 24, 2025, which confirmed the reallocation of the seat in accordance with the party’s 2022 list.
In a post on X on Tuesday, July 29, amid an ongoing parliamentary session, the National Assembly confirmed that Kimuge had taken the oath of office and shared photos of him holding a Bible as he went through the swearing-in process.
“Hon. Kipchumba Harold Kimuge has taking his oath as a nominated member of the National Assembly following his gazettement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Hon. Kimuge joins the 13th Parliament as a nominee of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM),” the National Assembly wrote on X.
Criticism
His nomination, however, has stirred fresh internal unease within ODM, particularly from Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who questioned the integrity of the party’s decision-making process in filling the high-profile vacancy.
In a post on his official X account on July 25, 2025, Amisi wondered why ODM Youth League President John Ketora was overlooked, despite having previously received the party’s endorsement to succeed Mbadi.
“I thought John Ketora from Kajiado County was the rightful young man to replace Mbadi in Parliament. What happened?” Amisi posed.
Amisi’s criticism draws attention to a 2024 endorsement by ODM officials who had publicly backed Ketora’s nomination under the workers’ category. His omission from the latest list, despite party backing, has sparked speculation over whether internal lobbying or shifting priorities influenced the final IEBC decision.
The IEBC has since defended its move, stating that all re-allocations were conducted strictly in line with the law and the constitutional frameworks governing party-list nominations.
The Commission further reaffirmed that it reallocated one special seat in the National Assembly, Mbadi’s former seat, and nine other seats in various county assemblies, following declarations of vacancies by respective speakers, arising from resignations and deaths.
“The re-allocations were officially published on Thursday, 24th July 2025, in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette (Notice No. 10083, Vol. CXXVII-159),” the commission noted.
The electoral body added that it remains committed to upholding principles of fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in all nomination processes.
“The Commission continues to promote equitable representation and safeguard the integrity of our democratic institutions,” IEBC noted.