A section of youthful ODM leaders from Gusii region have hailed the appointment of Budalangi lawmaker Ababu Namwamba for his recent appointment as the party’s secretary general.
Speaking at Gusii Stadium, Kisii County majority whip Henry Moracha said Namwamba was best placed for the position and dismissed critics labeling the second term parliamentarian as a mole for allegedly rallying behind the ruling Jubilee coalition.
“Ababu has the energy and resilience to move our party to the next stage. Those lambasting him as a mole should desist henceforth since his ideologies can serve the party. He is very intelligent and we will support him,” said Moracha.
He said the rise of the youthful MP to the top organ of Kenya’s single largest party was a boost to the youth across the nation and showed how the party is ready for generational change.
“This is good news for youth and internal democracy in the party. They fought him but he remained focused and discharged his duties as PAC chairman besides silencing his critics,” Moracha added.
Nyamira ODM youth Secretary General John Ombasa called for integration of youthful leadership within the party for a formidable challenge to the incumbent leadership ahead of 2017 general elections.
“We must remain united if we dream of vanquishing our competitors and Ababu will lead us. Time has come for us to forgive the perceived party rebels for the sake of harmony within the party,” Ombasa said.
Namwamba fell apart with the party top leadership after the aborted party elections early this year and has recently been spotted with Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, something that political pundits predicted as a possible political party to challenge Raila Odinga and his opposition Cord.
They also asked ODM leadership to forgive MPs who were de-whipped for allegedly opposing the party ideologies in open forums.