Twists as Orange party gives Otiende Amollo back job at House committee
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who was axed from the Justice and Legal Committee (JLAC) over his position on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill, has been reinstated following a meeting with his party leader Raila Odinga.
Otiende was removed from the committee last week and his party (ODM) immediately picked Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang to replace him.
But after the Monday meeting with Raila, which was also attended by Siaya Senator James Orengo, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu, it was resolved that Otiende takes back his position.
Firm instructions
A source, who asked not to be named, said the party leadership had been directed to institute the changes immediately and have Otiende reinstated.
“The leadership has received firm instructions to rescind its earlier decision and reinstate Otiende with immediate effect,” added the source.
However, the reinstatement may be complicated since the Clerk of the National Assembly had already closed the window for interested individuals to apply for the vacant position.
Again, it would require another reorganisation of the committee to remove Kajwang. By the close of the day on Monday, Kajwang was the only member who had presented his name to the office of the Clerk.
In a letter issued yesterday, Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Sialai declared that Kajwang who at the close of business on Monday was the only member who had shown interest in the vacant position.
Amollo and Orengo have been leading a faction opposed to the allocation of the 70 constituencies in the proposed Constitutional amendment bill that has since been passed by the two Houses.
Oparanya said that the meeting revolved around party issues, adding that there has been a lot of speculations of a split within the party.
“The meeting was about our party issues and which we have resolved well. Raila was also concerned about the happenings. We have agreed to work together, unfortunately Covid-19 has been there and we cannot meet as frequent creating space for all these speculations,” said Oparanya.
On Sunday, Orengo and Amollo joined Oparanya for a church service at St Benedict Catholic Church, Mukoye, before proceeding to the Governor’s Mabole home for the meeting.
At the church, although the trio maintained, that they still support the party, however, accused some unnamed politicians of “misleading Raila for their selfish political gains.
Despite facing accusations of stirring division and failing to heed to the party position, Otiende charged that they would not be intimidated for expressing divergent
