Acting ODM Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has renewed her challenge to Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku to quit the party if he is dissatisfied, this time speaking at a public rally in Butula Constituency, Busia County.
Omanyo dismissed Lenku’s earlier claims that the party has done nothing for the Maasai community, telling residents that the community has benefited significantly from President William Ruto’s Broad Based Government, which she said has rewarded the Maasai with senior appointments across government.
She cited several Maasai professionals currently serving in top state offices as evidence, including Judith Pareno, Principal Secretary at the Department of Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General, alongside officials at the Ministry of Defence under Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, and other principal secretary and state agency positions, arguing that the community’s political fortunes disprove Lenku’s claims of neglect.
The ODM SG accused Lenku of biting the hand that fed him, noting that he was handed the party’s gubernatorial ticket in Kajiado without going through a competitive nomination process, only to turn around and criticise the same party.
“If he wants to leave, let him go alone and sink on his own. Let him not drag the rest of the Maasai community down with him,” Omanyo told the Butula gathering, urging the community not to be misled by what she termed “dirty politics” meant to keep them in the dark.
She issued a direct challenge to the Governor to resign immediately if he believes he no longer belongs in ODM, allowing his deputy, Martin Moshisho, to take over and complete the remainder of the term.
She described Moshisho as capable and said it made little sense for Lenku to continue benefiting from ODM’s platform while working against it.
Omanyo maintained that ODM remains a party for all Kenyans regardless of region or status, and reaffirmed that the party stands firmly behind the Broad Based Government arrangement with President Ruto.
