Opiyo Wandayi, who has been serving as the Minority Leader and is the MP for Ugunja, resigned from his position to accept his new role as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy.
With Wandayi stepping down, the ODM party proposed Junet Mohamed, the MP for Suna East, to take over as the Minority Leader. Additionally, Millie Odhiambo, the MP for Suba North, was recommended to become the new Minority Whip.
These changes were announced by ODM’s secretary general, Edwin Sifuna, during a press conference. The reshuffle in leadership is a result of the nominations of top ODM officials to the Cabinet by President Ruto. The party had to fill these vacant positions quickly to ensure smooth operations within the National Assembly.
John Mbadi, who has been nominated as the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, also resigned from his position as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). To fill this vacancy, the ODM party proposed Caleb Amisi, the MP for Saboti, to take over as the chair of PAC, with Funyula MP Oundo Mudenyo as the deputy.
Former governors Wycliffe Oparanya of Kakamega and Hassan Joho of Mombasa also resigned from their roles within the ODM party following their Cabinet appointments.
Oparanya is set to become the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development, while Joho will take on the role of Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy. Their resignations from their deputy party leader positions were necessary to comply with their new responsibilities in the government.
Beatrice Askul, who served on the national elections coordinating committee, also resigned. She has been nominated to be the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development.
Raila Odinga, the leader of the ODM party, expressed his support for the nominated members but clarified that their appointments to the Cabinet do not mean that ODM is joining the government or entering into a power-sharing agreement. Odinga emphasized that ODM and its allies in the Azimio coalition would continue to play their role in providing oversight and holding the government accountable.
Odinga’s statement aims to assure supporters that despite the nominations, the party remains committed to its principles and will continue to advocate for the interests of the people. This stance is crucial in maintaining the trust and support of their followers, who might be concerned about the implications of these high-profile appointments.
The ODM Central Management Committee, led by Raila Odinga, held a meeting on Wednesday, July 31, where they accepted the resignations and proposed the new leaders.
The committee acted swiftly to ensure there were no leadership gaps in the National Assembly. This decisive action underscores the party's commitment to maintaining strong leadership and effective representation in parliament.
The proposed changes will be finalized during the Azimio La Umoja Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting. This meeting will ratify the new leadership appointments and ensure that the transition is smooth and orderly.
Junet Mohamed, the new Minority Leader, has been a prominent figure in the ODM party and has a track record of effective leadership and strong advocacy for party policies. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to ensure robust opposition leadership in the National Assembly.
Millie Odhiambo, nominated as the Minority Whip, is known for her vocal and passionate defense of the party's stance on various issues. Her new role will involve coordinating party members in the assembly to ensure they adhere to the party’s directives and strategies.
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