The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party has called for the resignation of Kenya Power and Lightening Company (KPLC) board chairperson Joy Mdivo and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) chair Anthony Mwaura from their positions following their appointment as United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party officials.
The party in a statement on 3rd April 2024 said they deliberated on the developments in other parties and their implications for the nation including the appointment of the two leaders.
“In particular, the Committee expressed deep concerns over developments in UDA, where public officers, paid by taxpayers from all political formations, have been appointed as party officials,” read part of the ODM party statement.
“Consequently, we demand that all those people who have been named as UDA officials must immediately resign from public service. There is no way they will serve two masters, the public and the UDA part.”
The party said the move is staring at the return of the Party State system last seen in the 1980s when party leaders and public servants were one and the same thing.
“We take the position that this development is wrong. It is a recipe for chaos and dictatorship and partisanship in the management of public affairs,” ODM further stated.
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UDA’s Appointed Election Officials
Anthony Mwaura was appointed as Chairperson of the UDA National Elections Board.
On her side, Joy Mdivo was appointed as the Chairperson for the Electoral Disputes Resolution Committee (EDRC).
The appointments were made on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, during the UDA National Steering Committee Meeting, ahead of party elections to be held from April 26 to August 24, 2024.
However, the officials were sworn in on April 3, 2024, as the new elections board just a day after their names were unveiled.
KRA Chairman Anthony Mwaura chaired the new team, which took the oath of office on Wednesday April 3 morning.
Others who took the oath of office on Wednesday include Vice Chairperson Veronica Kiberenge and members Lydia Munika, Jimmy Kahindi and Mary Matinga.
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ODM elections
The ODM committee resolved to kick off the Party grassroots elections on the 27th of April 2024.
However, the exercise will commence on 27th April in Kwale, Busia and Siaya Counties.
On April 29th, the elections will take place in Kajiado, Migori, and Wajir, while on April 30th, they will be conducted in Kisii, Vihiga, and Muranga.
The party further agreed to prevent election activities from being the source of divisions or causing cracks in ODM. They stated that elections must be perceived as a friendly match rather than a do-or-die situation.
