ODM replaces Nyamira majority leader – Weekly Citizen

ODM party which has majority members in Nyamira county assembly has finally confirmed the ousting and replacement of Duke Masira as the leader of the majority in the assembly.

Oyagi was last week bundled out of the coveted seat and replaced by Nyamaiya ward representative Daniel Masira who also served in the same position in the last term.

Confirming the replacement, ODM executive director Oduor Ongwen in a letter dated January 16 stated: “Reference is made to the meeting of the majority party and coalition members in the Nyamira county assembly on December 31 2019 that resolved to change the leadership.

Duke Masira

Oduor further stated that having had the opportunity of going through the minutes and the relevant law, he wished to communicate by rubber stamping that as ODM party, they were satisfied with the procedure undertaken pursuant to Nyamira county assembly standing order No 15(3) and as the ODM party leadership, they have no objection to the election of Daniel Raban Bernard Masira (ID No 21908390), the MCA Nyamaiya ward as the leader of the majority party and coalition in the assembly.

“Kindly accord him the necessary cooperation, facilities and privileges necessary for the optimal functioning of his office,” read part of the letter which was made available to Weekly Citizen and copied to ODM general secretary, clerk to Nyamira county assembly, the majority whip, the deputy majority whip and the ODM chairman Nyamira county.

The MCAs had resolved to replace Masira citing dishonesty and abuse of office among many other major misdoings that prompted the removal. They ousted leader is said to have been busy promoting his self own selfish interests at the expense of his colleagues.

Among the other accusations leveled against him are claims that he used the name of MCAs to solicit for unspecified amount of money from both the county executive and unmentioned national government officials, monies which the MCAs were never given.

They also accused him of not sharing monies that were given to him on behalf of all the 35 ward reps for official functions to Bomett and Mombasa counties on separate occasions last year.

They further nailed him for delaying the processes of vetting chief officers who were nominated by the county executive.

“We need a house leadership of integrity and honesty. We have tried to put up with the misdoings which have prompted our action but it’s not proper for an assembly of laws and order to tolerate such misdoings,” Kiabonyoru MCA Duke Omoti told this writer.

Investigations carried out established that the plot to kick out Oyagi from his position was mooted by area governor John Nyangarama.

ODM National chairman Mbadi

A close confident of Nyangarama who sought anonymity told this writer that Nyagarama was determined to remove Masira, the county assembly speaker Moffat Teya and the chairman of the budget committee Richard Onyinkwa from their positions because they were an impediment to the county executive from stamping its authority in the assembly when it comes to matters touching finances (budget) and employment of senior officers in the county government.

The same source revealed that after the successful ouster of Masira, the guns are now pointing at Teya and Onyikwa so that they can be replaced with persons who protect the county executive interests at the assembly.

When Onyikwa was contacted, he said they were the target of Nyagarama and his government because of their stand on exposing corruption in the county government.

“The Nyagarama team met some of us at Borabu hotel and made an attempt of giving us Sh5 million so that we don’t question the missing of Sh240m but we rejected the offer” Onyinkwa told this writer.