The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) did not endorse four of it’s members who were nominated to be part of President William Ruto’s Cabinet on Wednesday. The party’s spokesperson and Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has said.
Ruto unveiled the party’s high-ranking officials namely; John Mbadi (Chairman), Hassan Joho (Deputy Party Leader), Wycliffe Oparanya (Deputy Party Leader) and Opiyo Wandayi (Minority Leader National Assembly) as nominees to the helm of the Ministries of Treasury, Mining, Cooperatives and Energy respectively, after dissolutin of his first cabinet.
But Sifuna insists, the orange party did not front the four given that the Raila Odinga-led political formation has not established a working relationship with the ruling party.
“ODM did not endorse Mbadi, Joho, Oparanya, and Wandayi, but we knew those negotiating with President Ruto. These members were nominated in their capacity and without the party’s blessing,” Sifuna said during a TV interview with Citizen TV.
The four ODM members were among the 10 additional nominees who the President nominated Wednesday afternoon during the State of the Nation address at State House, Nairobi.
Following the nominations of Mbadi, Joho, Oparanya and Wandayi, Senator Sifuna indicated that he expects them to tender their resignations, effectively relinguishing their positions in the party.
He further indicated that it was highly-unlikely for the ODM leader Raila Odinga to present names of persons to be considered for nomination into cabinet without taking into consideration their gender.
“There is no way Raila would present only male nominees for the CS position. It was not his decision.” Sifuna noted.
“If ODM resolved to get into a government of national unity with UDA, I would say it. I don’t speak for myself but for the party. I am not afraid of Ruto and Raila. I am not a coward,” reiterated Sifuna
Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/four-odm-stalwarts-set-to-join-rutos-broad-based-cabinet/
