By S, KNA
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Suleiman Shabal has cautioned that any attempts to exclude Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will have serious repercussions on the party.
Speaking at the Luo Professional Organization forum in Tudor, Mombasa, Shahbal said there is a deliberate attempt to alienate Joho and divide the party from within, warning that such efforts would leave ODM weakened and diminish its negotiating power.
“Whether they like it or not, Joho is the coastal kingpin. If he goes, 44 Members of Parliament will follow him. What will be left?” Shahbal posed.
“A united ODM is in a very strong negotiating position, however a divided ODM, becomes a bunch of headless chickens running around, and I have no intention of being one of those chickens running around,” he said.
The EALA legislator traced the long-standing relationship between ODM leader Raila Odinga and coastal politicians, dating back to 1992 when Raila supported the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK). He noted that Joho has stood with Raila since 2004, including attending his controversial swearing-in as the people’s president at Uhuru Park when other leaders feared treason charges.
“Any attempts to alienate Joho are going to backfire seriously,” Shahbal said. “As ODM party, Baba left us as a national party, from Turkana, Western, Northeastern, Coast, Nyanza, Central and others. You cannot start excluding people now. It will not work and this is going to decimate the party, leaving it as a shell.”
Shahbal emphasized that differences in opinion within the party should not translate to division, urging ODM leaders to sit together and resolve their disagreements. “We can agree to disagree. It does not mean we fight and break the party,” he said.
The MP also praised the Luo Professional Organization of Mombasa for their support of education. “I appreciate anyone who supports education. I am with them. I support anyone who knows the power of education, be they whatever tribe, Luhya, Luo, Kikuyu, Bajuni and others. I am with them,” Shahbal stated.
Shahbal also echoed calls to include the Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary in negotiations between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), arguing that the CS must be included as he is the coastal spokesperson.
He acknowledged that some aspects of the 10-point agenda agreed between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President William Ruto had not been fully implemented. However, he noted that such changes require more work and time, stressing the importance of full implementation before the next general elections.
