At the height of power struggle in NASA coalition over the sharing of key parliamentary positions, compromises were made in a bid to forestall a fallout that was looming. However, months later, NASA leader Raila Odinga is finding himself on the receiving end of his own decisions.
After the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi had ruled that all Parliamentary parties were entitled to slots at the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission, ODM had to act with the party dropping firebrand Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga in favor of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.
Wanga served in the same capacity of PSC commissioner in the previous Parliament and the decision to drop her in favor of Jumwa was greeted with some skepticism. However, for the party, it was keen on presenting national outlook in its house leadership. And so, Wanga accepted and moved on.
Four months later, the decision has backfired after Jumwa showed all indicators that her time in ODM is up.
The firebrand legislator is seemingly switching allegiance to Deputy President William Ruto and has even declared that she will support the DP come 2022 presidential contest, a move that may harm Raila's own political ambitions in as far Coast region political block is concerned.
Amid the ongoing political realignments, probably ODM is regretting dropping Wanga for Jumwa.