Malava ODM supporters whisk away Chairman John Waluvengo from office

BY WAKHUNGU ANDANJE

A section of Malava Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters dethrone area party chairman John Waluvengo Lyadi terming him unfit.

Group led by Joseph Sikolia said the ousted chairman, Lyadi, had no leadership qualities.

"Hence he is not fit to head the new office recently launched by ODM chairman and Kakamega governor Fernandez Barasa" Sikolia said.

Sikolia has, however, taken over his place, being deputised by Lazaro Anaswa with other officials joining the coup.

Residents who turned up to witness the installation of the new office bearers were optimistic they will revamp the party popularity at the grassroot levels.

They vowed as ODM diehard to strengthen and restructure the party to allow more members to join.

They called on the county party chairman governor Fernandez Barasa to confirm the new office and work with them to strengthen the party ahead of 2027 polls.

“In 2022 we witnessed an election that saw no ODM candidate being elected even as an MCA and this is because of the poor leadership from our sub branch office hence our resolutions to send him packing,” Sikolia Said.

They said that the decision to unseat the chairman was solemnly their own initiative and not any body’s plot "and were solidly stand with our decision," he said.

They accused the outgoing chairman of not working well with the office, and instead he used to handpick his cronies to serve under him, saying the move weakened the party terribly. 

They said the former chairman was not listening to their grievances affecting the party, and this has de-popularized the party within, forcing them to take charge.

They said Malava is yet to start enjoying the fruits of ODM due to bad leadership.

"We hope the new office will revert the trend," Sarah Muteshi East Kabras ward delegate said.