Millie Mabona Sacks Constituency Employee Over ODM Stand, Raising Questions on Her Political Loyalty
HOMA BAY — Questions are once again being raised over Suba North MP Millie Mabona’s political loyalties after she reportedly sacked Jasper Kaliya, an ODM youth leader and employee at the Suba North Constituency office.
Kaliya attracted attention after a video of him defending ODM and condemning the chaos witnessed during the Linda Mwananchi show in Homa Bay last weekend went viral.
In the video, Kaliya defended the ODM position and blamed the disturbances on events surrounding Linda Mwananchi’s show. He did not, however, attack or blame Mabona.
His subsequent dismissal by the Suba North MP has therefore surprised political observers, with some asking why an employee who publicly defended the party would be punished when his remarks did not target the area MP.
Kaliya is not only a constituency employee but also serves as an ODM youth leader in Suba North, making his dismissal particularly significant at a time when political alignments in Homa Bay are under intense scrutiny.
Mabona and the “Watermelon” Question
Mabona has increasingly faced criticism from some ODM supporters who have accused her of playing both sides of the political divide.
Critics have labelled her a “watermelon” — a political term commonly used to describe someone who appears to belong to one political camp publicly while allegedly sympathising with another privately.
The latest incident has consequently revived questions about whether Mabona's political heart remains firmly with ODM or whether she is increasingly leaning towards Linda Mwananchi and her political allies.
For her critics, the decision to sack Kaliya has only added fuel to those questions.
There is also a long-running political association between Mabona and Brian Weke that has been the subject of discussion within political circles. Those familiar with their political relationship have frequently pointed to the closeness between the two and argued that Mabona's political positioning should be viewed alongside Weke's own political activities.
The question being raised by some observers is simple: Where Brian Weke is politically, where does Millie Mabona stand?
The James Opande Controversy
Mabona's political conduct has also previously attracted attention over her involvement in the case surrounding Mt James Opande.
The issue generated considerable debate after Mabona was accused of pushing for action against Opande, including efforts that could have resulted in his arrest and deportation from the United States.
The controversy became even more contentious because the lady she was defending was not from Mabona's Suba North constituency or Homabay.
Mabona's critics questioned why an elected MP would invest so much political energy in pursuing a matter involving an individual outside her constituency, particularly when the dispute involved allegations and online material surrounding Opande's engagement with a woman with questionable character.
The matter left sections of Homa Bay politics asking why the MP appeared so determined to pursue Opande and whether there were political or personal interests behind the intervention.
Millie Mabona keeps insisting that her first tribe is “women,” so not even Suba North? Meaning, according to her, her main duty in Parliament is defending women’s interests first.
New Questions After the Linda Mwananchi Chaos
The latest controversy follows chaotic scenes at Linda Mwananchi's show in Homa Bay last weekend.
The incident has exposed the increasingly sharp political divisions surrounding Linda Mwananchi and ODM, with ODM activists condemning the disturbances and defending the party's position.
Kaliya's viral video placed him firmly among those defending ODM.
His subsequent dismissal has now created a fresh political talking point.
If Kaliya's comments were intended to defend ODM and condemn the chaos, and do not attack Mabona in any way, political observers are asking what exactly triggered his sacking by the MP.
For ODM supporters, the incident presents a bigger question about the MP's political direction.
Is Mabona still fully committed to ODM, or is she preparing for a political realignment?
For now, the MP remains associated with ODM. But her critics argue that her recent actions, alliances and political interventions continue to raise questions about where her political loyalties ultimately lie.
The dismissal of Kaliya may therefore prove to be more than an employment decision. In the highly charged politics of Homa Bay, it could become another chapter in the growing debate over Millie Mabona, ODM and Linda Mwananchi.