ODM Names Replacements for John Mbadi & Opiyo Wandayi in Parliament

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has announced its new parliamentary leadership following the nomination of its national chairman John Mbadi and National Assembly minority leader Opiyo Wandayi as Cabinet Secretaries (CSs).

In a statement on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, ODM announced Suna East Member of Parliament (MP) Junet Mohamed as the new minority leader nominee.

On the other hand, the party said that Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo will assume the role of minority whip.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi will be the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson, to be deputized by Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo.

Millie Odhiambo replaces Junet as the minority whip while Caleb Amisi replaces ODM party chairman John Mbadi as the PAC chairperson.

“CMC meeting resolved to propose Hon. Junet Mohamed for the position of Minority Leader, Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Minority Whip, Hon. Caleb Amisi-PAC Chairman, and Hon. Oundo Mudenyo-PAC Vice Chairman,” said the party in a statement.

The new changes come after President William Ruto announced Opiyo Wandayi as a Cabinet nominee for the Ministry of Energy while also nominating John Mbadi as CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning.

Mbadi and Wandayi were among key figures from the ODM Party to be picked by President Ruto as nominees for different ministries.

Besides the two, Ruto nominated former Mombasa governor and ODM deputy party leader Ali Hassan Joho as CS for Ministry of Mining.

President Ruto Nominates ODM Insiders

Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya on the other hand was nominated as CS for the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Also, President Ruto later nominated Beatrice Askul Moe for the position of the CS for East African Community Affairs (EAC) & Regional Development.

Also Read: Ruto Nominates New EAC CS

Until her nomination, Beatrice Askul Moe was serving in the ODM party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee, a three-member entity responsible for coordinating the party’s elections and ending the culture of selling tickets to the highest bidders.

ODM had earlier on Wednesday shared a congratulatory message by Turkana South MP John Namoit  sent to Beatrice Askul, who hails from the same County as him.

MP Namoit highlighted that the Ministry of EAC CS nominee will become the first woman CS from Turkana to join Cabinet if approved by Parliament.

Turkana South MP’s Congratulatory Message

The lawmaker further thanked the ODM Party leadership for buying into Askul’s position on the appointment, further highlighting that the Turkana people are happy for the nomination.

“Am deeply honored and grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in the Turkana community by appointing Hon. Askul as the first CS woman in Turkana, it is truly humbling to have your support, and the ODM family is excited to be on the decision-making table for a prosperous country, Kenya,” said the MP.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to each one of ODM leadership for buying into your position on this appointment, it wasn’t easy. The Turkana nation and the ODM family in Turkana are very Happy. God Bless Baba Raila Amolo Odinga and H.E President William Samoei Ruto.”

Also Read: Fresh Hurdle for ODM Chiefs as Petition Seeking to Block Cabinet Appointments is Filed

Beatrice Askul, if vetted successfully by the National Assembly, will take over from former CS Peninah Malonza who was sacked on July 11 when President Ruto dissolved Cabinet.

Beatrice Askul Joins Other ODM Stalwarts as Cabinet Nominees

The new Ministry of EAC nominee is a Social Scientist and a Consultant who has previously worked at the Turkana County Government as the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Water, Irrigation, Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

Also, she has previously served as Chairperson Technical Committee of the Rift Valley Water Services Board and as a Director of the Rift Valley Water Services Board.

Askul previously held the position of a Chairperson Audit Committee to the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Project Officer AMREF Kenya Turkana Project and Relief Officer for the Oxfam Turkana Relief Program.

The new Cabinet nominee was among the strategists who spearheaded the 2022 presidential campaign of ODM party leader Raila Odinga, forming a 7-member panel that picked his running mate.

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