An ODM committee has rejected Dr Agnes Zani’s candidature for secretary general’s post and endorsed AbabuNamwamba, causing anxiety among leaders who have declared they still support her bid, is likely to deal her a major blow and hand the mantle to Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba on a silver platter.
Nominated Senator Agnes Zani (left) with Orange Democratic Party delegates at Kilifi county hall recently during her campaigns for the post of Secretary General. A meeting of Coast leaders yesterday allegedly resolved to support her rival Ababu Namwamba for the post . PHOTOS: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD
On Friday, a committee appointed to explore Coast region’s options in the February 28 ODM elections dramatically rejected Zani’s candidature and endorsed Namwamba.
The committee, chaired by Thomas Mwadeghu, the Wundanyi MP, announced that following negotiations, Coast ODM leaders had agreed to support Namwamba for secretary general, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho for deputy party leader, Simon Ogari for treasurer and Rozah Buyu for organising secretary.
Mwadeghu said the committee had settled on this line-up on receiving indications that delegates from other regions were supportive of Joho’s candidature in return for Namwamba’s, but reports indicate this arrangement is opposed by key ODM leaders who support Zani.
He also indicated that the retention of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro as CORD’s whip in Parliament had altered the mood in Coast towards a compromise with other regions of Kenya. There have been strong indications that Zani, a nominated senator, was the preferred candidate of party leader Raila Odinga for the secretary general’s post currently held by Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong’o.
But Raila has said he has no preferred candidate. Nyong’o has since declared he will not defend his seat.
Zani’s candidature and the perceived liking by Raila has elicited sharp criticism by a section of ODM MPs, who have demanded that the party leader keeps off the process.
On Thursday, Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo declared: “We will support Dr Zani regardless of the findings of the committee,” an indication that many leaders were impatient with the negotiations.
Go it alone
Mwadeghu said yesterday: “Dr Zani is free to go it alone to seek votes from delegates… because that is what she has been doing.”
Mwadeghu’s statement appeared to suggest that Zani had engaged in a solo campaign.
Mombasa County MP Mishi Mboko, who sits on the committee, said: “Dr Zani has never called us for a meeting or asked for our votes as Coast leaders,” further exposing the nominated senator’s isolation.
But Mwadeghu’s declaration has caused anxiety among some committee members and ODM leaders from the Coast, who said they were caught by surprise by the Wundanyi MP’s announcement.
Zani and several committee members were unavailable for comment and did not return calls to explain the development.
Personal opinion
But Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi told The Standard on Saturday what Mwadeghu announced “was his own opinion” because the committee was to give its report of findings later yesterday to a meeting of all ODM leaders from the Coast at Flamingo Hotel in Mombasa.
Significantly, Mwadeghu made his announcement at the same hotel in the morning accompanied by an aide of Mombasa Governor Joho.
Mwadeghu was appointed to chair the committee that was mandated to market Zani and other candidates like Joho and explore negotiations with other regions.
The committee, which also comprises Mombasa County MP Mishi Mboko, Kwale County Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga and Kaloleni MP Kamoti Mwamkare, was mandated to present a report today from which the region’s ODM leaders would announce a final decision next Wednesday. Mishi told The Standard on Saturday the committee had met Namwamba, Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, who wants to be chairman, and Simon Ogari, who is vying for the treasurer’s post, but added that no meeting with Zani had taken place.
Mishi did not disclose what happened in the negotiations with the Namwamba group or whether any agreement was reached.
Yesterday evening, it was not clear what led to the discordant statements within the committee. It was not possible to determine whether all committee members attended all the meetings or if some had endorsed Mwadeghu’s statement.
Mishi, however, said the committee had agreed “only the chairman could issue a statement” on this matter to avoid contradiction.
No agreement
Meanwhile, Mwadeghu told journalists that his committee met Zani’s and Namwamba’s teams to explore their candidatures. He said the committee met Zani and Samia MP Paul Otuoma, who is vying for the chairmanship, but failed to reach an agreement.
The Wundanyi MP claimed Zani’s group did not impress his committee on their plans for the future of ODM.
He claimed that other committee members did not turn up for the release of yesterday’s unsigned statement because they were still actively engaged in negotiations. Mwadeghu said the committee would, from tomorrow, start campaigns in Isiolo and Garissa to woo the party’s North Eastern delegates.
“The team will also tour Thika, Machakos and Ongata Rongai on Monday before they head to Nyanza, Western and North Rift on Tuesday,” added Mwadeghu at Press conference yesterday.
He said the team would hold campaigns in Mombasa on Wednesday before heading to Nairobi where they will meet delegates.
