Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba has revealed that he has endured 18 months of frustration as the Secretary General of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
The lawmaker, who has been missing in demonstrations led by his party leader Raila Odinga against electoral body IEBC, said there were powerful forces within ODM trying to oust him from the post.
Namwamba said he wanted to transform the party as he campaigned for the seat, but powerful forces within the party have fought him fiercely during his tenure.
He said he wanted to end the culture of violence especially in ODM elections and nominations, but has been frustrated.
“There are some very powerful forces within the party who did not want me as Secretary General. They did not want me not because I was a mole. Those were silly excuses. It had everything to do with fear of change and transformation. I wanted to transform the party, especially this culture of violence, messed up nominations where people win and tickets are given to other people, either because money has changed hands...Those forces that fought me to become Secretary General did not die, those forces gathered and have been strategising (to kick me out), I must admit that it has been a very frustrating 18 months in office as Secretary General,” Namwamba said on Citizen Tv, Tuesday.
“I want to serve in an environment where I am not merely tolerated. I want to serve where I am appreciated, not where I have to fight huddles,” he added.
Namwamba at the same time condemned the violence that was witnessed in anti-IEBC demos, which left at least four people dead in Siaya and Kisumu.