Mr. Dancan Munala was yesterday dropped as the Secretary of ODM-KS. In an Executive Committee meeting held yesterday at ODM-KS Office, the Committee delivered a “Vote of no confidence” on both Mr. Munala and Ms Sofia Njoroge, the Treasurer.
During a motion that was moved by the Chairperson Mrs Hellen Opwapo, Committee members observed that it was no longer tenable for both Mr. Munala and Ms Sofia to continue serving as Secretary and Treasurer respectively because they were working against the organization. The new Secretary is Mr. Okoth Osewe while the new Treasurer is Mrs Grace Nyambura.
The Committee also decided that the annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday May 19th. Several decisions were taken at the meeting. The Executive committee will prepare an Annual General Report ahead of the AGM, send invitation to members 3 weeks in advance to attend the AGM, prepare the ballot papers and re-organize the Office in preparation for the AGM.
ODM-KS members who wish to stand for elections have until May 13th to submit their names to the Committee. All candidates will have their names printed on the ballot papers which will be used for voting. The Committee will draw up a “Code of conduct” for elections while members who wish to contest for Office have been given freedom to begin election campaigns. The Committee will meet again on Friday 4th May. The Committee meeting ended at 15.20.
After the meeting, ODM-KS members who had come to the office to “observe” developments at an unconstitutional “Emergency members meeting” that had been called by Mr. Munala and Mr. Opee began a count-down towards 16.00 hrs.
The members believe that Munala, Opee and Sofia are trying to disrupt the Party and they were very curious to know who was behind Munala and company. These members were the following: Hellen Opwapo, Makan Macharia, Waweru Nderi, Paul Muirani, Leena Nousiainer, Martin Ngatia, Grace Nyambura, John Njenga, Teddy Machua Antony Adiwa, Long John and Okoth Osewe. Many ODM-KS members called HQs to say that they would not attend the meeting because it was unconstitutional.
Fanuel Okoth, a Kenyan, told members that he had just been informed that Wakenya were meeting. He is not an ODM-KS member. He later decided to join the Party and promised to pay his membership fees. Members were excited when he said that he did not know much about ODM-KS. It looks like the Munala group tried to use him to increase numbers.
On the Munala side, the first person to arrive was Mr. Gerry Midenyo, a former Treasurer who resigned from the Party and quit ODM-KS, saying that he had become a member of ODM-K in Kenya. His resignation was published by Munala at his blog and members wondered whether the Munala group was very desperate for support so as to try to recycle a member who had quit the Party to attend an illegal meeting. Gerry did not join the ODM-KS observers and kept on moving up and down the Pavilion like a “security officer”. After Gerry, Odhiambo Opee came in. He too, did not join the ODM-KS observers. By 16.30, only Gerry and Opee had arrived and members began to realize that the big talk about a meeting was hot air.
A PUNCH BY PUNCH ACCOUNT OF “CHAOS DEVELOPMENT”
Then Clay Onyango and Jasper Orieny arrived and joined the group of observers. Nobody knew on which side both Clay and Jasper stood. It was Clay’s first time at the Pavilion. Members did not bother to interfere with Clay because they were having a good time relaxing with drinks at the Pavilion. No alcoholic drinks are allowed at ODM-KS meetings and since members who were present simply wanted to show solidarity with the Committee, they just took it easy as the waiting continued then Otieno Opee arrived. The Mzee is on Munala’s side.
The last to arrive was Munala and Sofia. It was now some minutes to 17.00. By the time the two arrived, the Munala group comprised of the following: Munala, Sofia, Odhiambo Opee, Otieno Opee and Gerry Midenyo, five people. Apart from Clay and Jasper whose positions were unknown, the rest of the group were not with Munala and company. It was a big shame.
The Chairlady then addressed the supporters informed them about key Committee decisions that had been taken. She said that the Office had been reshuffled and advised those who were affected to hand over items belonging to the Party. She also said that the date for the AGM is May 19th and gave other details.
Other members also spoke and lectured Munala and company for trying to disrupt the Party. Makan told them that they could not bypass the chairlady while calling a member’s meeting. At First, Gerry tried to stop the filming of what was happening but he was quickly told to shut up and the filming continued.
It was after Sofia and Munala were given time to speak when hell broke lose. They started shouting that “Osewe is a dictator” and “Osewe must go”. They were soon joined by Gerry in the chorus. At that point, members started shouting down Sofia, Munala and Gerry, creating big chaos at the Pavilion.
For the next 10-15 minutes, the Pavilion was filled with noise prompting the Swedish Manager of the Office to come out to check what was happening. Her mother was also at the Office and she appeared really shocked at the site of Africans shouting at the top of their voices.
As the situation threatened to deteriorate even further, the Committee decided to get supporters out of the Pavilion. Gerry was nearly beaten up by a member who had to be restrained by two members. He used the “F” word on Gerry as he was led away.
There was no time to waste. We convinced members to leave akina Munala alone and wait for the AGM if they wanted them out of the Party. It was a very difficult task. The evacuation process took approximately ten minutes and I was the last to leave.
Supporters had left the Pavilion but I was still trying to talk to Sofia and Opee on how organizations are managed. Opee never shouted at anybody and Sofia had cooled down. I remember telling Opee that the best option could have been to discuss any differences in the Committee and if they could not be resolved, the issues could be taken to members in a properly organized members meeting. “If you use the methods you people are using, there will be anarchy and chaos”, I told Opee Jr who accepted that I had no personal differences with him.
Suddenly, three members came and told me that we had to leave so I left. Munala, Sofia, Gerry and Opee Jr were left alone at the Pavilion to ponder their next move. “We have left with the members”, I told them in a last minute shot.
I don’t remember when Clay and Jasper left the Pavilion but I suspected that they might have dashed out when the noise reached “fever pitch”. I met Antony Adiwa outside and he told me that he was very disappointed with Munala and his two supporters. The struggle against political opportunism in ODM-KS continues.
Okoth Osewe
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