Raila Odinga replace Aden Keynan with Wajir governor as the national deputy chairman of ODM

The governor of Wajir, Ahmed Abdullahi presents a certificate of participation to one of the participants of last year’s Desert Wheel Race. {Courtesy.}

NAIROBI—The Orange Democratic Movement has replaced Eldas legislator Aden Keynan with Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi as the national deputy chairman of the party.

The opposition party will also replace Keynan with Wajir Women representative Fatuma Ibrahim as the chairman of the Public Investment Committee.

Sources within the ODM told Kulan Post that the party has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi to replace Keynan with Fatuma in mid last month when Keynan and Tarbaj MP were spotted with Deputy President William Ruto at his Karen house office.

“The change will be effective from Wednesday and Keynan is no longer an ODM member,” the source said, adding that the party has written to the speaker after “Keynan exhibited pro Jubilee tendencies in the House and in public forums.”

In December at Wajir, Keynan told NTV that he would not allow Wajir governor to vie on an ODM ticket.

“I am the national deputy chairman of the party and it’s he who has to look for another party,” he said.

Three months later, Keynan and Elmi joined the president’s party, Jubilee in what Uhuru hailed as fruitful move.

“We want to applaud the people of Wajir County for resolving to join the Jubilee Party which is the winning team,” President Uhuru said when he received the two legislators after their defection from the Orange Democratic Movement which sponsored them to parliament in the 2013 elections.

The legislators led section of Degodia elders who called on the president a week after Ogaden elders and professionals visited the State House and assured the president of their support.

Uhuru called on Wajir residents to observe peace and cohesion ahead of a tensed elections.

“The most important thing in development is unity and stability since where there is no unity and peace, there can be no development,” he said.

Uhuru similarly expressed his desire “all along to work with the people of Wajir for the sake of unity and stability in the region.”

“Their (Wajir leaders) decision to join Jubilee has been informed by the development agenda being implemented by our Government throughout the country,” the president tweeted.

The State House visit included Wajir East MP Abass Sheikh Mohamed, 15 local county assembly members and the speaker Bishar Omar.