Labour leader encounters fresh trouble from former sec gen
Labour Party of Kenya secretary general David Makali (left) joins the party's leader Ababu Namwamba in addressing the media during their retreat at Sentrim Lake Elementaita Lodge, Nakuru County, on February 5, 2017. Mr Makali has accused the leader of being selfish. PHOTO | MACHARIA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Makali told the Budalang'i MP to respect the directive of the tribunal that he does not speak or act on behalf of the party.
- Mr Namwamba insisted that he was still the party leader terming those seeking to kick him out as charlatans and irritants.
Former Labour Party of Kenya Secretary General David Makali has denounced the party leader describing him as dishonest and only out to satisfy his own interests.
Mr Makali termed Ababu Namwamba, also Budalang'i MP, a stranger in the party.
"Namwamba is an ODM member and is only trying to use LPK to negotiate for deals with Jubilee and to make quick cash," he claimed.
Mr Makali was recently stripped off his position on allegations of secretly working with the National Super Alliance (Nasa).
Mr Namwamba too is facing ouster after his position was challenged at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
Speaking to the Nation on phone, Mr Makali told the Budalang'i MP to respect the directive of the tribunal that he does not speak or act on behalf of the party.
He further said the legislator has never left his former party.
"If you search for his membership number with the registrar of political parties Ababu Namwamba is an ODM Life Member No.000777," he said.
The former secretary-general said that days of handpicking sycophants as party officials is long gone, asking the legislator to follow the due process.
He said that he had no ambition of being the LPK party official but only interested in representing Bungoma residents in the Senate.
On Thursday, Mr Namwamba insisted that he was still the party leader terming those seeking to kick him out as “charlatans” and “irritants”.
The lawmaker said the case before the tribunal was sponsored by his opponents in order to frustrate him.
Speaking in Eldoret town during the party's women convention, Mr Namwamba also accused the ODM of sponsoring the petitioner to have him removed.
"Our party is firm, united and strong. There are no factions. We know the source of this problem is the party which we left. We bade you goodbye to join Labour party and we are not going back," he said.
