Inside Politics

11 Kisumu MCAs removed from House committees after meeting Interior PS Omollo

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 18:09 | By
Kisumu MCAs
Kisumu MCAs with Interior PS. PHOTO/PD File

Eleven Kisumu County Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have been removed from various House committees after allegedly shifting allegiance to the Kenya Kwanza government.

The ward reps last week joined Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda in a meeting with Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

They were accused of going against the ODM party rules and regulations governing its conduct and association with other political entities with different ideals.

Those ousted from the committee slots are Gard Olima (South West Nyakach), Vincent Odhiambo (Central Nyakach), and Habil Nyasuna (Masogo/ Nyang'oma).

Others are Kelvin Oraro (Kolwa Central), Fredrock Odari (Chemelil Tamu), Oiko Pete (Kabonyo/Kanyagwal), Tom Onditi(Ombeyi), Tom Nyaoke (North Nyakach) Millicent Omuya (North Seme) Caroline Opar (nominated) and Regina Kizito (nominated).

In a communication made during the Tuesday, March 7 afternoon assembly session, Kisumu Speaker Elisha Oraro said the decision was taken following the ODM party directive.

According to Oraro, the actions followed the party's communication in a letter to the assembly directing that they be de-whipped immediately from the committees.

Oraro explained that they held the positions by virtue of the party and any other privilege from such positions will also be forfeited by the malefactors henceforth.

"The decision is as a result of the above-mentioned members defying numerous party positions and directions," Oraro read.

Axed MCAs speak

But some of the MCAs Olima, Odhiambo, Nyaoke and Oraro laughed off the move while maintaining that they did nothing wrong when they met PS Omollo.

"We also demand to know our mistake. As far as we are concerned we did nothing wrong by visiting the PS and we shouldn’t be vilified and punished," Nyaoke said.

Oraro attributed their current political tribulations to 2027 succession politics in Kisumu County pitting embattled Senator Ojienda and a host of ODM leaders eyeing the seat.

Ojienda has declared to succeed Governor Anyang Nyong’o when he retires in 2027 but his deputy Mathews Owili from Nyakach and Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor also want the seat.

The same is rumoured of Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron.

The leaders are angling and are busy doing all they can to win the support of the MCAs and ODM supporters.

Ojienda is commanding 11 out of the 35 MCAs with Owili having the majority in his stable while Owuor and Oron are endearing themselves directly to the voters to win their support as the political alignments take shape.

Ojienda is working with his MCAs to support the Kenya Kwanza government. He recently took them to PS Omollo which has now earned them the party's wrath.

Olima said they are not unapologetic for meeting the Interior PS, noting that they had approached the national government official over security issues they want to be addressed.

“We did nothing wrong by going to see the interior PS. We are going to have several such meetings because we have security issues that need to be tackled,” he said.

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