The fall-out between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba shocked many. The two were close allies and no one would imagine that they could one day part ways.
Ababu often referred to Odinga as his political father and mentor.
The former MP joined ODM in 2007 and won the Budalangi parliamentary seat on the Orange ticket. Ababu was among youthful politicians who campaigned for Raila’s presidency in the 2007 general election.
He was considered as Raila’s engine and saw him baptized with the name ‘General’.
Ababu and Odinga political relationship blossomed with the former MP even being elected as the orange Party Secretary General.
The former MP also served as National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chair.
However, as they say, there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, Raila- Ababu relationship began to crack in 2015.
The former MP claimed that certain forces close to Raila were fighting him with the aim to dethrone him as the party secretary-general.
He accused the former prime minister of watching as some people tried to frustrate the party.
The former MP claimed that old politicians in the Orange party were against young rising leaders who he said were the future of the party.
In July 2016, Ababu resigned as ODM secretary-general.
His resignation elicited reactions with claims that the Orange party was now ‘dead.’ However, party lieutenants rubbished Ababu’s resignation accusing him of being a Jubilee mole.
The MP later quit the party and joined the Labour Party of Kenya (LPK). Ababu was then appointed LPK secretary general.
In the August 8, 2017, general election, Ababu lost the Budalangi seat to his political rival Raphael Wanjala of ODM.
In a series of interviews, Ababu who was appointed as Foreign Affairs Administrative Secretary by President Kenyatta has maintained that he does not regret ditching ODM.
“I never regret my move to quit Raila’s Orange party and to me it was the best decision I have ever made,” he said recently.
Ababu will be among the youthful politician to watch as the 2022 succession debates take shape.
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