Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has criticised Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo for what she termed as a neutral stance in the ongoing internal battle within ODM.
Omanyo, who serves as ODM’s deputy secretary general and is currently the party’s acting Secretary General, accused Odhiambo of avoiding direct engagement in the party’s internal disagreements.
“Millie Odhiambo, whom I looked up to in politics, has sat on the fence when so many things are happening in ODM; she is sitting on the fence. She said ODM mistreated Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. In her heart, somehow, she is picking a side,” Omanyo said.
“She should be the last person to speak like that to show that she cares. If she cares so much and she is a lawyer, she should have a sit-down with her fellow lawyer Sifuna and urge him to try and solve issues internally if there is something that does not please him with ODM and not to bring confusion,” she added.
Omanyo argued that rather than publicly criticising the party, the Suba North MP should have engaged Sifuna privately to help resolve his concerns.
She defended ODM’s handling of Sifuna, dismissing claims of mistreatment. Omanyo said that the senator’s frustrations reflect his personal decision to leave the party.
“If someone decided to leave, whatever you try to give them will not matter; they will still leave. I have parked myself in SG and settled just fine. The party is still solid, and we are all set. We shall meet in the NDC. I will fight for the seat,” Omanyo said.
Millie, also the party’s Minority Whip has publicly called for internal democracy within ODM, warning against handling disputes in a manner that fuels dissent.
“Our mistreating Sifuna is what has made Sifuna a hero. So let us be careful the way we are dealing with our issues,” Odhiambo said earlier.
The Suba North MP also claimed she had previously faced intimidation for speaking out on internal party matters, including attempts to silence her during a meeting in Kisumu.
