ODM chairman dethroned in Malava power tussle

A section of Malava Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have dethroned their current branch chairman.

John Waluvengo Iyadi who has been the sub branch chairman was toppled in a coup led by Joseph Sikolia, the ward delegates and other office bearers.

The team alleged that the ousted chairman had no leadership qualities and hence not fit to head the new office recently launched by its county ODM chairman and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.

The morning coup saw Joseph Sikolia being appointed as the Malava sub branch ODM chairman alongside Lazaro Anaswa as his vice with a section of other officials joining the coup. Together with the organizing secretary Albert Sikolia among other officials and delegates drawn from ward levels.

The seven drawn from the seven wards were also part of the installing of the new chairman together with women and youth leagues saw the initiation of the new office bearers that is set to revamp the party popularity at the grassroot levels.

They said as ODM they will strengthen and restructure the party to allow more members to join.

They called on the county chairman Fernandez Barasa to confirm the new office and work with them to strengthen the party ahead of the coming polls.

“In 2022 we witnessed an election that saw no ODM candidate being elected even as a Mca and this is because of poor leadership from our sub branch office hence our resolutions to send him packing, for it is for the betterment of the party growth”. Said chairman Sikolia.

They said that the decision to unseat the chairman was solemnly their decision and not any body’s plot and were solidly standing with the decision. 

They accused the outgoing chairman of not working well with the office and instead he used to handpick his cronies to serve under him and that the move weakened the party terribly.

They said the former chairman was not listening to their grievances affecting the party and this has de-popularized the party within forcing them to take charge.

Malava is yet to start enjoying the ODM Fruits due to bad leadership and hoped that the new office will revert the trend, stated Sarah Muteshi East Kabras ward delegate