Parliamentary purge: Why ODM risks being reduced to a Luo party

A purge of MPs opposed to the broad-based government in Parliament now threatens to fracture the ODM party’s support base further ahead of next year’s elections.

On Tuesday, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi were removed from their committees in a move initiated by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and sanctioned by a section of ODM leaders. The changes followed recent attempts by the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary-General.

The fissures within ODM continue to play out on the floor of the National Assembly and could soon extend to the Senate. Pundits warn that efforts to eject leaders viewed as defenders of the party risk alienating its grassroots base.

The decision to “punish” leaders who have traditionally voted in favour of ODM may only entrench anti-ODM sentiment in the regions they represent.

Political analysts observe that the purge reinforces a narrative that ODM is betraying its supporters by aligning too closely with the government, and risks losing its ideological identity as a champion of reform.

Professor of Management and Leadership Gitile Naituli says the ongoing purge of so-called dissenters risks reducing ODM to a predominantly Luo party, weakening its national influence and doing little to secure President William Ruto a second term.

READ: 'Rebel' MPs Kibagendi, Caroli, Odinga moved in latest committee changes

“ODM has traditionally been a coalition amassing support from three voting blocs, namely Ukambani, Western and Nyanza regions. With the purge of key leaders from regions other than Nyanza, it is significantly alienating its support base,” says Naituli.

“ODM can only help the President in his re-election bid when united, not as it is currently. The Ukambani region has closed ranks with the opposition and the Western region is largely opposed to the broad-based government. This undermines ODM and makes the party less credible to both the President and the opposition,” he adds.

Omondi and Kibagendi have suffered the same fate as Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who was removed from ODM’s National Executive Committee on grounds that he is already serving as a party branch chairman.

Omondi claimed there were plans to rig the next election, which resulted in his removal from the committee.

“They don’t want me to chair the CIOC because I am going to oversee the General elections. They want to rig the elections. That’s why they don’t want me in the committee” – Caroli Omondi

In changes communicated by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, MPs opposed to the broad-based government were removed from powerful House committees and reassigned to less influential ones.

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Omondi was ejected from the influential Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC) and replaced by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a newfound ally of President William Ruto. Tiaty MP William Kamket was installed as the committee’s new chairperson.

Omondi, a vocal critic of the broad-based arrangement and recently appointed Secretary-General of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, protested his removal.

“I want to be shown the power of the selection committee and our standing orders to discharge me from a committee. I want a ruling from the Speaker,” he said during a heated plenary session on Tuesday.

Kibagendi, who is currently serving a suspension from the House after claiming Parliament had been turned into an appendage of the Executive, was also removed from the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, where he served as vice-chairperson. He was replaced by newly elected Kasipul MP Boyd Were.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga was moved from the Agriculture Committee to the much-criticised Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.

Ruth, sister of the late Raila Odinga, has also publicly criticised the broad-based arrangement and is an ardent supporter of ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.

Lawmakers allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were also affected. Geoffrey Wandeto was removed from the Regional Development Committee and reassigned to the Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Services.

Conversely, newly converted allies of the broad-based government, such as Juja MP George Koimburi, were rewarded with positions on influential committees. Koimburi, who recently parted ways with Gachagua, was appointed to both the Regional Integration Committee and the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee.

Marakwet MP Timothy Kipchumba was moved from the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

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New entrant MP Leo Wamuthende secured a slot on the Environment, Mining and Forestry Committee.

In a sign that further changes may be imminent, Minority Leader Junet Mohamed issued a warning.

“I am serving a warning. Anyone who will not adhere to party's position will relinquish their committee positions to lesser ones, so that they know that it is parties which reward people to positions,” Junet stated.