Leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Linda Ground faction have dismissed attempts by a rival group within the party to organise a parallel National Delegates Convention (NDC), maintaining that the party will only hold one official meeting next Friday.
Speaking to the press outside the party headquarters on Thursday, March 19, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Deputy Secretary General and Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo, and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed rejected the push by the Linda Mwananchi faction to convene a separate convention.
The leaders confirmed that the official ODM NDC will take place at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi and will bring together delegates from all the 47 counties across the country. They urged members and accredited delegates to attend the gathering as scheduled, saying all necessary communication had already been made.
“There will be only one NDC of the ODM happening on Jamhuri Grounds…there will be only one. ODM as an institution is 21 years old this year and ways to call an NDC are stipulated in the party Constitution. People are free to hold rallies, barazas but the NDC will only be one,” Wanga stated.
“We welcome the members and delegates who have already been communicated to.”
Wanga also questioned the legitimacy of the proposed convention by the Linda Mwananchi faction, arguing that the process of calling an NDC is clearly outlined in the party constitution and must be followed.
According to her, the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) had already sat and agreed to convene the official convention following calls that had been made throughout last year.
“The whole of last year, there was pressure to call for an NDC and the NEC sat and agreed to do it. An NDC is called by the Party’s NEC and therefore anyone to claim so has to tell us which NEC met and decided on the NDC,” Wanga pointed out.
“You must give a 21-day notice, which the party has given. NDCs are not for people to be invited, it’s for a notice to be given by the party and the attendees are clearly stated as per the Constitution.”
Junet Mohamed also defended the party leadership’s position, saying that only established party organs have the authority to convene such an important meeting.
He added that the upcoming event is a special NDC meant to address specific party matters that have already been approved by the party leadership.
“As the chair has said, this is a special NDC, which is only ratified by the decisions made by the NEC and the National Governing Council. You can’t introduce another agenda. The party is going to have a special NDC now and an ordinary NDC at the end of the year when it is due,” Junet stated.
The dispute comes at a time when internal disagreements appear to be growing within the party. A separate group under the Linda Mwananchi wing has already indicated that it will boycott the official convention scheduled to take place at Jamhuri Grounds.
The faction includes Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. The leaders have criticised the planned meeting and questioned its legitimacy.
They have instead announced plans to organise what they describe as a “people’s NDC,” which they say will also be held in Nairobi on the same day as the official gathering.
Speaking during a press address on Wednesday, Orengo said the faction would soon announce the venue for their convention.
“On the 27th, we’re holding the people’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) in Nairobi at a venue which we shall announce,” Orengo stated in a press address on Wednesday.
The competing plans for separate meetings highlight the divisions currently facing the party as different factions push for their preferred direction ahead of the convention.
