ODM Leader Raila Odinga is set to lead a top party organ meeting today (Friday, August 9), with reports indicating that its main agenda will be to pick new officials after the appointment of key figures to Cabinet.

ODM’s positions of two Deputy Party Leaders, National Chairperson and Political Affairs Secretary fell vacant after the appointment of Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi to Cabinet by President William Ruto.

Today’s Central Management Committee meeting is expected to deliberate on filling these positions, to allow the orange party function seamlessly.

Ever since the appointment of the quartet by President Ruto, there has been an intense lobbying from ODM Party members.

For example, Coastal region leaders have been vouching for an individual from the region to fill Joho’s position. Azimio-One Kenya Coalition female leaders have been lobbying for a lady to take up one of the vacant, influential party positions.

MCAs and ODM luminaries in Kilifi County have been calling for Governor Gideon Mungáro to fill one of the two deputy party leader positions. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, on the other hand, says he is the right man to take over from Joho.

The name of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has been named on numerous occasions too, but for Mbadi’s National Chairperson position.

Close sources say that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna — who is also the party’s secretary-general — and Governor Abdulswamad are the front runners for the two positions previously occupied by Joho and Oparanya.

The two deputy party leader positions in ODM has attracted much attention, bearing in mind that technically, the occupiers will be running the party because of the possibility of Raila moving to Africa Union Commission.

Sifuna, reports say, is banking on his “stellar performance” in his current position to convince the party organ that he will do exemplary work as a deputy leader.