ODM CS nominees don’t have blessings from party

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has stated that the party did not approve the nomination of four party members to the Cabinet.

Speaking on Thursday, Sifuna confirmed that the move, which saw ODM Chairman John Mbadi, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, and Deputy Party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya join the cabinet, was a personal decision.

Joho was named Minister of Mining and Blue Economy, Oparanya was assigned Cooperatives and MSME Development, Mbadi was appointed to the National Treasury, and Wandayi was given the Energy and Petroleum portfolio.

Sifuna clarified that this decision was not negotiated by the party and that the four members acted independently in their negotiations with President William Ruto. He emphasized that this does not reflect the party’s position.

“They do not have the blessings of the party. The position we gave is that they are joining the government in their individual capacity. We don’t begrudge them; in fact, I wish them well,” he said.

“I can assure you that Mbadi doesn’t understand the bottom-up transformative manifesto. Can John Mbadi reduce taxes as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary?”

The Nairobi Senator added that the party needed to have a conversation first and document their priority areas before any such decisions. He emphasized that their priorities have not changed and that they are not interested in discussing other matters.

Sifuna reiterated that there had not been any meeting of ODM party organs to discuss the nomination of the Cabinet Secretaries.

According to Sifuna, while ODM did not endorse Mbadi, Joho, Oparanya, and Wandayi, they were aware that these members were negotiating with President Ruto.

The leaders allied to Azimio leader Raila Odinga nominated by President Ruto to the Cabinet include Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSME Development), John Mbadi (National Treasury), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum).

Before the fresh nominations, Ruto stated that he was seeking to consult widely to form a government of national unity.

“I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, to set up a broad-based government that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent, and irreversible implementation of radical programs to deal with the burden of debt, raise domestic resources, expand job opportunities, eliminate wastage, and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies,” he said when he dissolved the Cabinet.

He further stated that this team would help him combat corruption, making the government lean, inexpensive, effective, and efficient.