ODM reinstates minority leaders in Nairobi County Assembly

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has reinstated the minority leadership in the Nairobi County Assembly barely a month after announcing a replacement of the leaders.

In a statement to newsrooms, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said Peter Imwatok and Elias Otieno, who had been replaced as minority whip and minority leader respectively, would resume their positions.

According to Sifuna, reinstatement of the two follows a resolution made during a joint meeting of Nairobi ODM MCAs and the Central Committee of the ODM Party held on Tuesday in Nairobi.

“The Minority Leadership of the house be retained as is with Hon. Peter Imwatok as Minority Whip and Hon. Elias Otieno as Minority Leader,” read the statement.

During the meeting, the leaders reportedly resolved to harmonize committee memberships within the next one week in a bid to ensure equity.

In a letter dated October 25, 2018, ODM Chairman John Mbadi ahd written to the Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly notifying him that Minority Leader Elias Otieno who is the MCA for Kileleshwa Ward, had been replaced by Kennedy Odhiambo Oyugi of Highrise ward.

The Orange Party had also replaced Minority Whip Peter Imwatok of Makongeni/Kaloleni Ward and handed his position to Nicholas Okumu Ouma of Lower Savana.

According to ODM Communications Director Philip Etale, the changes had been prompted by concerns raised by party members who felt that the current leadership was weak and needed to be firmed up.

“There has been outcry from party members in the assembly who have been complaining that the minority leadership is not effective and efficient. So they wanted a more competent leadership,” Etale told Citizen Digital.