ODM now summons Migori governor, MCAs
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has summoned its members in the Migori County Assembly for a reconciliatory meeting with governor Zachary Okoth Obado in Nairobi.
The move comes ODM withdrew plans to impeach the governor who is facing graft allegations alongside his four children, following the intervention of its party leader Raila Odinga.
ODM national chairman John Mbadi said the party will first have a meeting with all the MCAs before holding another joint meeting with governor Obado.
“Following the directive by our party leader, we resolved that it is important to have unity in the Assembly more so at this time when we already have the BBI report. We will have a meeting with them and give a statement on the outcome,” said Mbadi County Assembly Majority Leader Ken Ooro also confirmed the meeting and welcomed the decision of the party.
Ooro said: “I have been informed that it should be later this week and we are all for it because it will reduce the tension and disunity that we experienced recently that also left some of us injured.”
Obado survived the much-anticipated impeachment motion sanctioned by the ODM top brass over a month ago after Raila intervened. All elected leaders in his Migori County backyard led by his political nemesis, senator Ochillo Ayacko had backed the party’s decision to send him packing.
“We support the directive by our party leader and we will follow what they want us to do for the sake of the unity of our people and the development of the region.”
Political intrigues, fights and threats to life however played out leading to the adjournment of sessions in the county assembly. During the burial of the late Peter Sirawa, the father of Awendo MP Walter Awino, Odinga shared the platform with governor Obado for the first time since his impeachment plan was unveiled.
While addressing the mourners however, Raila said there was need to reconcile the warring factions in the county.
Speaking in his native dholuo language, Raila said, “Migori kae aneno ka weche ngeny. To adwaro mondo uyiena mond atieki, ji adi ma oyie.. Kara abiro neno kaka atimo ) there are so many problems here in Migori and i want to ask for your permission to solve them.
Let me see by a show of hands those who agree with that?. A day later, governor Obado joined Raila and other leaders from Luo Nyanza in hosting a delegation from Central Kenya at Kango Ka Jaramogi, the home of the late doyen of multiparty politics Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in Bondo, Siaya county where he was also given an opportunity to address the gathering.
The assembly had been divided with the majority being against Obado ouster.
Those who were supporting the ouster were by North Kanyamkago MCA George Omamba, who is the deputy speaker while Kaler MCA Thomas Akungo, who was elected on an ODM ticket, was leading the opposing camp. Mbadi had accused Obado of influencing the MCAs against his impeachment by dishing out cash, a claim that he denied.
Obado said: “Migori MCAs are very mature and those who were claiming that I was bribing them not to impeach me are simply misleading the public.”
Several leaders In Nyanza led by former MPs Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), Dalmas Otieno (Rongo) and Martin Ogindo (Rangwe) came to the defence of Obado and blamed the party for practicing selective justice.
Following the ouster bid that was received with apprehension in Migori at its environs, the country politicians have been divided down the middle, leading to fracas within the assembly that led to arrests after a physical altercation.
Trouble was witnessed in the assembly when North Kanyamkago ward MCA George Omamba obtained a court order reinstating him as the Chair of Chairs also assumed as the Deputy Speaker.
As Omamba moved to take over, some MCAs said to be pro-Obado tried to block him in vein leading to a physical confrontation in the full glare of public cameras and fellow MCAs.
In the process, Odiga broke her hands and was rushed to Migori Ombo Hospital where she is undergoing recovery. But immediately after the scuffle, police used the CCTV footage to nab fellow MCAs who were at the centre of chaos and singled out the seven MCAs caught during the chaos in the assembly.
They were then summoned by the DCI in Migori who interrogated them before they recorded statements and later arraigned in court and charged with causing disturbance and injury to Ms Odiga.
The Assembly was adjourned until today, Wednesday. The MCAs retreated to the drawing board as the bid to oust governor Obado turned into the theatre of absurd.
