ODM party leader Raila Odinga yesterday met Kisumu County Assembly leaders in the backdrop of wrangles that have split MCAs down the middle.

Raila, who had remained silent on the dispute despite his name being invoked by some MCAs who claimed to have his blessings on the latest changes in the Assembly leadership, held a two-hour closed-door meeting with the new team at his Capitol Hill office in Nairobi.

Those who attended included Kisumu Governor  Anyang’ Nyong’o, acting Speaker Elisha Oraro, Majority Leader Kenneth Onyango and Chief Whip Prisca Misachi.

However, embattled Speaker Onyango Oloo, dismissed the meeting and termed the move as “desperate”.

The MCAs, who last week voted to impeach Oloo, said ODM party settled on the decision following the graft allegations of the multi-billion-shilling Lake basin development authority mall facing the Speaker.

ODM chair John Mbadi, however, refuted the claims, saying  the party  national leadership had not communicated the decision as stated by the MCAs but clarified the Assembly had the powers to make a decision.

Oloo, who has threatened to go to court to fight his impeachment he termed null and void, said he would only respect the MCAs’ decision if he receives communication from Raila.

“In the event that I get a call from my party leader asking me to step aside, I will not hesitate to do so. But since I haven’t, then I will fight this ouster,” he said. 

But the MCAs’ meeting with Raila, would, perhaps,  be a clear indicator that Oloo’s fate had been sealed. 

On his Facebook account Raila said, “I am happy to have hosted a delegation from Kisumu at my office where we discussed matters on devolution with particular emphasis on synergy between the different arms of county government”.

The Majority Leader Onyango said Raila welcomed the new leadership and was happy the Assembly had agreed to work with the executive for the betterment of the county. He said Raila promised to visit the assembly for a joint meeting with the MCAs next month.

MCAs, who last week  voted to impeach Oloo, said ODM party settled on the decision following the graft allegations facing the Speaker.

  ODM chairman John Mbadi, however, refuted the claims, saying  the party  national leadership had not yet communicated the decision as stated by the MCAs.