Former Senator and deputy Senate Minority Whip Beatrice Kwamboka has resigned as the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Nairobi branch secretary.
In a letter addressed to the ODM executive director, dated November 1st, 2022, Kwamboka so as to give other upcoming leaders a chance to serve ODM and gain exposure in leadership.
“It is for this reason therefore that I write to relinquish the position of Secretary General – Nairobi City County so as to accord another person the opportunity to grow and lead. I will forever remain grateful to H.E Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, ODM and the entire party leadership for the nurturing and the exposure that I have experienced for being a party member,” said Kwamboka.
Kwamboka served as the Member of County Assembly (MCA) representing Mountain View ward Member in 2013-17 elected on an ODM ticket before being nominated as a senator by the party in 2017-22 where she rose to the position of the deputy Minority Whip in the Senate.
Kwamboka’s exit is a big blow to ODM in its tribal balancing as she was the highest-ranking party member from the Abagusii/Kisii community in Nairobi after former Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Simba Arati shifted his political base to Kisii county where he was recently elected as the governor.
Kwamboka a loyalist of the ODM party chief Raila Odinga will be missed by ODM as she was a great grassroot mobiliser with networks across Nairobi County which assisted in mobilizing voters to vote for the party’s aspirants and the former premier in his presidential bids.
ODM crashed Kwamboka’s dream of being elected as the Nairobi Women representative after the party adopted the zoning system under the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition by giving the incumbent Esther Passsaris a direct ticket instead of conducting party nominations where Kwamboka was the favourite to bag the ODM ticket.
Later, despite her loyalty and contribution to the party apart from her qualifications ODM betrayed herby declining to place her name among the 16 women nominees shortlisted for nomination to the Senate.
However, Kwamboka’s bid to seek legal redress through disputes tribunal failed after her case was thrown out.
Kwamboka failed in her bid to access and scrutinize files of 16 candidates shortlisted by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for nomination to the Senate.
Ms Kwamboka, whose name was not on the nomination list wanted the Tribunal to issue an order compelling ODM through its Secretary General to produce before the Tribunal copies of the files of the candidates whose names were published by the electoral agency on July 27, 2022.
She sought the order to have information supplied to her for purposes of scrutinizing the same so as to verify if all those nominated were duly nominated in accordance with the law.
Her Lawyer Danstan Omari told the Tribunal that strangers from other political parties such as Wiper, Narc-Kenya and UDA have been shortlisted and that wife of a top party official is in the list.
Arguing that there was nepotism in the shortlisting of the candidates, Mr Omari claimed that the said wife is currently a nominated MCA.
“Ms Kwamboka was left out because strangers and unmerited people were given the positions. She is seeking justice. Laws were flaunted to benefit cronies and relatives. There are people irregularly on the list. The Party is scandalized by people given jobs to select candidates for the nomination but they failed. They should face serious disciplinary action,” stated Mr Omari.
He added that there was no justification of leaving Ms Kwamboka out as she had applied for the nomination slot and is qualified.
Following Kwamboka’s resignation from ODM the Kisii community does not have an individual holding a top post in Nairobi.
After Simba Arati left Nairobi politics it was Kwamboka who had been the community’s highest ranking member in the party,
Last month, members of the Kisii community were shortchanged in the bid for the Nairobi County Assembly Speaker’s position after ODM director of legal affairs Anthony Moturi BwÓrwochi was left out in favour of former County Assembly deputy speaker Ken Ngondi a Luo, who served under the late Alex Ole Magelo between 2013-17.
The Kisii community had been promised the Speaker’s position after their only high ranking leader in the city Simba Arati left Nairobi politics.
In Nairobi, currently, the Luyha community has Senator Edwin Sifuna (elected), and several MPs including George Aladwa (Makadara), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands) and Beatrice Elachi (Dagoreth North).
Luo community has several MPs including Peter Orero (Kibra), Babu Owino (Embakasi East), Felix Odiwuor aka Jalango (Langata), Anthnoy Oluoch (Mathare), TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka).
The Kikuyu community has the deputy governor position and Lion’s share of MPs including Woman Rep Esther Passaris, Embakasi West Mark Mwenje, and Ronald Karauri of Kasarani while the Somali are well represented by the Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan.
Julius Mawathe of Embakasi South represents the Kamba nation.
