Raila Odinga on spot as party unity threatened

The Namwamba-Joho led team (from left) Rose Buyu, Ali Hassan Joho, Adan Keynan and Joseph Nkaissery during a meet-the-people tour at Kitengela town, Kajiado, yesterday. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

By RAWLINGS OTIENO, PETERSON GITHAIGA and NGARI GICHUKI

KENYA: Going by the events of the last few days that culminated in declarations by rival groups in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) yesterday, Mr Raila Odinga is walking a tight rope, an act that requires delicate balance.

He has the daunting task of guiding rival groups in his Orange party back to the negotiating table with a guarantee that he will not favour one side over the other.

He shoulders the onerous burden of disproving speculation that ODM has lost its sheen following Friday’s chaotic and abortive internal elections.

He has to prove that he still has what it takes to reignite hope among party supporters as ODM prepares to pick the team that will take it into the next electoral contest in 2017.

At 69, he is also faced with the challenge of assuaging fears among youthful leaders that he is not standing in their way but is indeed working on a balanced mix of experience and freshness in the new model of party stewardship.

Against the backdrop of these challenges in ODM’s internal affairs, memories of the 2013 General Election have resurfaced. The party elections were viewed as an opportunity for Raila to put the elections behind him and springboard into the next race, stronger and more prepared.

As it is, speculation is rife as to why several politicians, including two considered quite close to Raila — Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Siaya Senator James Orengo — refused to attend the National Delegates Conference at Kasarani on Friday.

The spectre of a major split has been hanging over ODM since youths disrupted the party’s elections, after which the team led by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, was perceived to have the upper hand.

As questions arise on the health of ODM, all eyes will today turn to a top level meeting that will be chaired by Raila. The National Governing Council (NGC) meeting is expected to be a make or break gathering for the party after previous attempts by Raila to unite Mr Namwamba’s team and the rival group led by Nominated Senator Agnes Zani failed.

Yesterday, Namwamba fired a warning shot saying his team would only agree to participate in a repeat election if it is assured of a free and fair contest.

However, Namwamba promised that his team would not quit ODM. “We are in the party to stay and we want to send a clear message that we will only agree to participate in another election if we are convinced the NGC has put its house in order for free, fair and democratic elections,” declared Namwamba.

Addressing jubilant crowd in Kitengela town, Namwamba reiterated his team was a force to reckon with and vowed to stay in ODM and to strengthen the party. “We are ready for elections anytime, anywhere, any day. Everyone saw the mood at Kasarani and we will still win even if the elections were held today.”

Mr Joho said they would not be party to the boardroom selection of interim office bearers pending elections. “This is a fresh team that can deliver the presidency to Raila but we will not be party to the boardroom selection of an interim office,” vowed Joho.

But while Namwamba and his team were promising to keep ODM together, his rivals threw in allegations that the Budalangi MP’s vigorous campaigns were a precursor to the coup.

Military takeover

Speaking yesterday at Hotel Boulevard in Nairobi, Dr Zani claimed that the Friday chaos and the pronouncement from the Namwamba-led team that it had taken over the party, were not only “a coup d’état on the party but also a larger scheme of a future ‘military’ takeover of the country”.

“We are concerned that we may be witnessing a formation hiding under the umbrella of democracy with the intention of a future ‘military’ takeover of our country,” she claimed.

She called on the NGC convening today to disband the secretariat.

“We call for the disbandment of the ODM Election Board, which was openly compromised. Some of the uniformed staff who disrupted the elections are well known employees of some of the candidates in the ODM fresh team,” Zani charged

Zani spoke alongside Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang and Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden among others. Mr Kajwang hit back at the Namwamba led team for accusing him of being among the ODM leaders who were responsible for the Friday chaos.

But the National Election Board (NEB) rejected Zani’s call for disbandment. “We never participated in any malpractice. If someone alleges as such, let him or her table evidence through the right channel,” the board Chairperson Judy Pareno said.

She asked aggrieved members to wait for the conclusion of the ongoing investigations by the NGC to determine the way forward.

Ms Pareno also appealed to candidates to refrain from declaring themselves winners. She warned that declarations would further polarise the party and render the NGC powerless in its task to elect new officials.

The Friday polls were cancelled after a gang now dubbed the ‘Men in Black’ destroyed ballot boxes and other election material ensuring that voting could not take place.

The Namwamba team has accused a rival faction of orchestrating the chaos at Kasarani.