In changes to party leadership announced by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on social media, ODM on Friday appointed a county CECM to the post of Party Secretary for Publicity and Information, despite the legal implications. Rahab Robi, the County CECM for Education and Youth Affairs in Migori, was appointed to the position, though state officers are legally barred from holding any party positions.
The appointment raises suspicions that Robi, who belongs to the same party as her Governor Ochilo Ayacko, may not have resigned from her position as Kuria East Sub-County Chairperson of ODM. Robi, who contested and lost the Kuria East Parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket in 2017, was also a candidate for the Deputy Governor’s position in 2022. She reportedly had the support of some party honchos, including Wycliffe Oparanya, but lost to Gimunta Mahiri, who had financially contributed to Ayacko’s campaign.
This development implicates not just Robi but also Ayacko, who hired her despite knowing she held a political position from which she did not resign before her county appointment. Ayacko, once reported to be aiming for the post of National Chairman, saw his hopes dashed due to an unremarkable performance in Migori and suspected loyalty to the party after twice defecting from it.
While those recently appointed to the William Ruto Cabinet were compelled to resign from their party posts—Hassan Ali Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya both Deputy Party Leaders; Opiyo Wandayi, Secretary for Political Affairs; and John Mbadi, National Chairman—ODM seems to believe that such legal requirements do not apply to county officials who are also appointed state officers.
The party also took the opportunity presented by these resignations to insert Dr. Ruth Odinga, Raila Odinga’s sister, into the national party leadership, thus ensuring representation for the Odinga family at the highest level.
With the introduction of a third Deputy Party Leader and two Vice Chairpersons, Raila Odinga has diluted the power of various offices and concentrated it in the office of Party Leader, which he will continue to occupy indefinitely, even after the upcoming elections for the African Union Commission Chairman. The new developments indicate that there is a clear line of succession, with Gladys Wanga emerging as the unchallenged heir-apparent to the Party Leader, while three deputies and two new Vice Chairpersons will vie for influence and power.
The changes appear to be a strategic move by Odinga to retain regional loyalty from areas where his party received significant support in the last elections. The new appointments ensure representation from the Gusii, Luhya, and Coastal regions, though the Luo community continues to dominate the newly created offices.
The officials named to replace those who resigned are:
- Gladys Wanga – Chairperson
- Godfrey Osotsi – Deputy Party Leader
- Simba Arati – Deputy Party Leader
- Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir – Deputy Party Leader
- Dr. Ruth Odinga – Deputy Organizing Secretary
- Rosa Buyu – Secretary for Political Affairs
- Otiende Amolo – Vice Chairperson
- John Ariko – Vice Chairperson
- Kakuta Maimai – Secretary for Special Programs and Social Welfare