ODM PICKS JUNET AS MINORITY LEADER, MILLIE ODHIAMBO AS MINORITY WHIP
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party has initiated a shake-up within its leadership. Suna East MP Junet Mohammed takes over as the Minority Leader of the National Assembly, succeeding hon Opiyo Wandayi.
In the last Parliament, Wandayi was the Ugunja MP, having been the Minority Leader. However, President William Ruto nominated him as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Energy.
It’s a serious transition since the ODM party readjusts its new strategy and representation within the National Assembly.
But that is not all. The party has also distributed other critical position in the party to other members. In his changes, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said that Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo is the party’s new Minority Whip.
This is one of the critical positions that ensures that party discipline is maintained and the party’s strategy and message in the assembly is articulated well. Indeed, the appointment of Odhiambo shows how the party is committed toward a way that is cohesive and strategic in its engagements within the Parliamentary precincts.
The importance of the Public Accounts Committee in the area of management, appraisal, and financial scrutiny of public funds simply cannot be overemphasized. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi is set to be the new chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
The meeting succeeded in the position held by Nominated MP John Mbadi. The office of the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee is very important in financial transparency and accountability in resource use by the public; hence, an important appointment for the party’s oversight functions.
Others who have landed key committee leadership positions include the Funyula MP, Hon. Wilberforce Oundo, appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, where the legislator now deputises the Committee Chair in scrutinising government expenditure and regularizing financial matters.
This appointment thus increases the capacity of the party to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of public financial management.
Sifuna addressed the press with Junet Mohammed and other party leaders, listing the party positions that must be left behind in the new appointments.
Sifuna confirmed that officials in the names list nominated by President William Ruto for cabinet roles have all tendered in their resignations from their party positions.
“The party has today deposed all its officials who were recently seconded by President William Ruto for national duty as Cabinet Secretaries,” confirmed Sifuna, saying that the party received the resignation of Opiyo Wandayi as the Secretary for Political Affairs.
Sifuna went further to indicate the other resignations he said had submitted letters to that effect, which included one by the party’s National Chairperson, John Mbadi. “I have also accepted the resignation of John Mbadi as National Chairperson, and Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho as deputy party leaders,” he said.
He continued to announce that Beatrice Askul Moe had also resigned from her position on the Party Elections Committee. Sifuna’s sentiments shone more light on the huge changes that have recently been effected in the Orange Democratic Movement as it positions itself to overcome challenges in the new constitutional dispensation.
