The ODM secretary general, Ababu Namwamba was openly rebuked by the close allies of opposition chief Raila Odinga , opening fresh cracks in the Orange Party 14 months to the polls.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Raila’s second in command, on Wednesday lifted the lid on tensions inside ODM in a stinging criticism of Ababu, amid allegations of a plot to kick him out as SG.
In a strongly worded statement, Oparanya accused Ababu of seeking to dismember the party along ethnic lines and accused him of being asleep on the job.
Oparanya’s statement was backed by a host of MPs, with some claiming the erstwhile firebrand lawmaker had turned into “a cry baby”.
Oparanya, who hosted Raila in Kakamega last week in a forum attended by thousands of young people, said Ababu has failed to provide leadership at critical moments.
“He was missing as the party prepared to welcome its leader, the Hon Raila Odinga, back into the country after a three-month sabbatical in the US,” Oparanya said.
“The SG was missing throughout the Okoa Kenya pro-referendum campaign and lately he has been missing from all efforts to disband and reform the IEBC. Yet reform of the IEBC is critical to ODM’s plans for ascending to power”.
On Tuesday, eight ODM MPs from Western led by Ababu himself claimed there are forces within the party that are bullying, frustrating and wrongly profiling them.
“We are not happy at all that the party leadership has no respect for us as elected leaders in the region. The party leader as well as the national chairman have been conducting activities in the region without involving us at all,” the MPs said.
The tirade was directed at Raila and ODM chairman John Mbadi.Funyula MP Paul Otuoma even alleged a plot to kick out Ababu from the influential ODM post.
Ababu’s tenure as SG has been marred by controversy, including claims that he is shopping for another party.
Ababu has missed key Cord events, including those surrounding the death of controversial businessman Jacob Juma and the demonstrations against the IEBC.His absences have fueled speculation about his estrangement from Cord.
“I want to serve in an environment where I am appreciated. There are people who survive on intimidating others,” he said.
But yesterday Oparanya said he takes great exception to claims by Ababu that the Luhya community is “being persecuted and undermined in ODM”.
“These utterances are unfortunate indeed and not befitting of a leader in the position Hon Namwamba holds. They are an embarrassment to the party and to the Luhya community that is solidly behind ODM,” Oparanya said.