Ababu Namwamba reaches out to foes

ODM leader Raila Odinga holds hands with the party's secretary general Ababu Namwamba. Namwamba Sunday extended an olive branch to party leaders dissatisfied with the new officials, saying, time had come for the party to be united. PHOTO | JACOB OWITI |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Mr Namwamba said that his primary responsibility was to strengthen the party and every individual will have a role to play in making it strong ahead of the next General Election.
• In Kwale, County Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga told mourners during the burial of Senator Agnes Zani’s mother, Ms Tereza Kadzo, that moving out of the party was not a possibility.
• Ms Mutua said that party members should respect the decision of the party leader and those who are not happy should leave.

By OUMA WANZALA
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ODM’s proposed secretary-general Ababu Namwamba Sunday extended an olive branch to party leaders dissatisfied with the new officials, saying, time had come for the party to be united.

This came as rebel ODM politicians from the Coast region defied calls to toe the party line, at the same time insisting they would not decamp.

Mr Namwamba said that his primary responsibility was to strengthen the party and every individual will have a role to play in making it strong ahead of the next General Election.

“We will listen to you with the purpose of strengthening our party and we must not allow Jubilee to poach even a single member of our party,” he said during a funds drive at Africa Inland Church in Embakasi.

Mr Namwamba who was accompanied by MPs Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay county), Florence Mutua (Busia county) and Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South) said the list was just a proposal that will be subjected to approval of party delegates and the National Governing Council (NGC) and therefore there should be no conflict.

However, those who accompanied him had no kind words for those who are opposed to list that was developed in Naivasha last week under the leadership of Mr Raila Odinga.

REBELS TOLD TO LEAVE

Ms Mutua said that party members should respect the decision of the party leader and those who are not happy should leave.

“We need strong structures within the party and that is what the party leader has done so that we go to the next election united,” she said.

Mr Wandayi said that he fully supports the negotiated list and it was time for the party to move forward.

Ms Wanga said that ODM has been the wilderness for long and asked Mr Namwamba to take the party to the Promised Land.

In Kwale, County Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga told mourners during the burial of Senator Agnes Zani’s mother, Ms Tereza Kadzo, that moving out of the party was not a possibility.

“Bwana (former) Prime Minister tutabanana hapo hapo, hatutoki” (We shall stay put, we will not leave the party),” she said on Saturday, while calling for unity of Coast leaders.

However, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar differed with Chidzuga saying the chase for Coast unity was a fallacy as “Coast is already united”