ODM Party leader Oburu Odinga./HANDOUT

ODM party held two parallel county delegates consultative fora as it concluded its tour of the Western region under the “Linda Ground” operation.

One meeting was organised by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa at Golf Hotel, while a second meeting, organised by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera—who also claims to be the county chairman—was held at Emabole Primary School in Butere Sub-County.

ODM party leader Dr Oburu Odinga attended both meetings to emphasise the importance of each faction.

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The factions emerged during the Kakamega County delegates' elections in September. One group of delegates elected Barasa as chairman at Makhokho High School, while another set endorsed Nabwera as county chairman.

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ODM national Chairperson Gladys Wanga with Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera at Mabole primary school on Sunday/IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO 
ODM national Chairperson Gladys Wanga with Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega./HANDOUT

The group led by Nabwera, known as G8, has maintained a separate faction since then.

Oburu chaired the Emabole meeting first before flying to the meeting at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega town. He arrived by helicopter at Oparanya’s residence, near the meeting venue, and briefly met before proceeding to Emabole Primary School.

The entourage included party national chairperson Gladys Wanga and other elected party leaders.

At Emabole, Oburu stated that he will work to unite the two factions.

“I have seen the problems, and I will work together with CS Wycliffe Oparanya to address them to unite the party and make it strong,” he said.

The G8 grouping includes Nabwera, MPs Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Fred Ikana (Shinyalu), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Kakamega Woman MP Elsie Muhanda, and Oparanya. Barasa’s team includes Innocent Mugabe (Likuyani), Tindi Mwale (Butere), and Johnston Naica (Mumias West). ODM has ten MPs in Kakamega.

ODM also held a delegates consultative forum in Malaba town, Busia, on Saturday. Delegates endorsed resolutions from the party Central Management Committee meeting held in Kilifi on Monday last week. The committee authorised the party leadership, led by Dr Oburu, to commence structured negotiations with other political formations, starting with UDA.

Party secretary-general Edwin Sifuna and deputy leader Godfrey Osotsi did not participate in the Western tour, despite both being from the region, citing internal divisions.