Editor's Review

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Wednesday skipped the ODM Central Committee meeting chaired by Raila Odinga.

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Wednesday, April 3 skipped the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) Central Committee meeting chaired by Raila Odinga.

Speaking after the meeting, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said Joho is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and sent his apologies for missing the meeting.

“We have had a meeting of the central committee, it was full house except with the apologies of deputy party leader Hassan Ali Joho who is in Mecca,” said Sifuna.

During the meeting, the committee discussed the ODM grassroots elections, the political parties fund, the ongoing doctors’ strike, the school’s capitation, and the fake subsidized fertilizer.

The ODM’s top decision-making organ called on the government to release the political parties fund. 

Read More

  1. Details of Raila Odinga's Event that will Take Place in Ethiopia on Friday
  2. ODM Announces New Date For Grassroots Elections
  3. ODM Writes to Senate Over Bill Seeking to Extend Presidential Term Limit

The committee also resolved to kick off the party grassroots elections on April 27, 2024, in Kwale Busia and Siaya Counties.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ali Hassan Joho and Junet Mohammed. 

On April 29, 2024, the elections will be held in April Kajiado, Migori, and Wajir followed by April 30, 2024, in Kisii, Vihiga, and Murang’a counties.

“A further timetable covering the next batch of counties shall be released in due course,” ODM stated.

At the same time, the party demanded the government to release all capitation money to all schools before they reopen for the second term and to implement the Basic Salary for doctors as per the agreed, signed, and registered CBA of 2017- 2021.

“We equally support calls by doctors for annual and incremental recruitment of doctors and other healthcare workers until the country attains the recommended levels of staffing for various levels of facilities. That is what the government does with teachers, police, and military,” the party stated.

Further, ODM called for the resignation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) officers responsible for the fake subsidized fertilizer.

“Those found to be responsible for these criminal activities of supplying fake seeds and fertilizers must be charged with sabotage and engagement in organized criminal activity,” ODM added.

Additionally, the opposition party called on the government to reduce prices of subsidized fertilizer from Ksh 2,500 for a 50-kilogram bag to Ksh 1500 as a show of apology and respect to farmers.