Why Balala is ditching Raila’s Orange party

By Philip Mwakio

Tourism minister Najib Balala, one of Prime minister Raila Odinga’s dependable allies in Orange Democratic Movement in 2007, is shopping for a new party.

The Mvita MP who stepped down for Raila in ODM’s presidential nominations, and who was one of the top guns dubbed ‘Pentagon’ claimed the Orange party is dictatorial and lacking in democracy — which is supposedly its middle name.

"We are tired of parables and empty rhetoric. Time for change is now,’’ said Balala who was flanked by Mvita Constituency Development Fund chairman Mr Ibrahim ‘Babangida’ Hamisi.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala salutes members of the public during the launch of Manyanga project at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa on Sunday. On his left is Mombasa politician Ambasa Kisiengo. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

His pending exit from a party that is already grappling with rising rivalry between Raila, its party leader and deputy Mr Musalia Mudavadi, is bound to attract attention from the PM’s critics especially given his reasons for abandoning ODM.

Within ODM it is believed Balala not only played a leading role in the formation of the party but also was instrumental in giving it the name borrowed from the symbol for the ‘No’ vote in the 2005 referendum, which the party fought and won.

Balala maintained during a public gathering at the scenic Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa that ODM lacked democracy and he would soon announce the new party on whose ticket he will seek the Mombasa Senator seat.

Political vehicle

Balala has kept many guessing over which political vehicle he will use in coming election but signs have been out there that he had fallen out with Raila. "Our new party is ready. We are going to unveil it soon," Balala promised his supporters.

The minister, though not associated with the G7 Alliance associated with Eldoret MP William Ruto, who himself fell out with Raila earlier and remains one of ODM deputy leaders just on paper, is one of the influential politicians from the Coast province.

His departure from Orange party leaves Mombasa County with three MPs elected on the party ticket to contest the next elections.