Wamuzi News Ke
A fierce showdown is unfolding within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Mombasa County, as local MCAs bluntly reject directives from the party’s national headquarters in Nairobi to reverse recent leadership changes — and stand by their chosen majority leader.
Led by Old Town MCA Abdirahman Hussein, the 24-member majority block of ODM ward representatives has reaffirmed its July 3 decision to replace Athman Mwamiri with Priscillah Mema Mumba as Leader of the Majority Party in the County Assembly. They argue the change was lawfully executed under Standing Order 15, which empowers elected members to determine their own leadership.
The MCAs say the resolution was formally communicated to the Assembly Speaker on July 4, acknowledged by the local ODM branch on July 9, and publicly declared during the Assembly’s 44th sitting on August 5.
But on August 7, the party’s Executive Director, Oduor Ong’wen, sent a directive to the Speaker, calling for the restoration of the “status quo” while the national office evaluates the legality of the leadership shift. He also proposed a stakeholders’ meeting within two weeks to address any disputes.
In a defiant response, the Mombasa MCAs denounced the move as both “belated and irrelevant,” accusing the national office of politicizing and undermining the autonomy of the Assembly. “We will not accept dictates from Nairobi on County Assembly leadership,” they declared, warning that attempts to reverse their decision are “undemocratic and an affront to the Assembly’s sovereignty.”
Freretown MCA Mariam Baimu captured growing dissatisfaction among legislators, citing poor leadership by Mwamiri—particularly his resistance to advancing the Ward Development Fund. “We were unhappy with how he led the House. We’ve now entrusted this crucial role to a woman we believe will steer us differently,” Baimu explained.
As the national office battles to reassert control, Mombasa’s ODM lawmakers are digging in. They’ve called on party leadership to focus on grassroots mobilization ahead of upcoming elections, not interfere with decisions made by locally elected representatives. The clash sets the stage for a simmering power struggle that could reshape party unity in the region.
