By ANDERSON OJWANG and KEPHER OTIENO
With Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi confirming he is in ODM only on paper, the party is moving to replace him but only after amending its constitution.
Among the clauses earmarked for possible amendment is the contentious clause that makes the party leader, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the automatic presidential candidate. Mudavadi and his allies pushed to have the clause removed before the party moved for registration but failed.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) with chairman Sharrif Nassir Foundation Abdulswamad Nassir (2nd right) and Tourism minister Dan Mwazo (right) at the wedding of former Kenya Human Rights Commission commissioner Hassan Omar at Mombasa Sports Club on Sunday. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]
The Sabatia MP and his aides confirmed on Saturday that he was done with ODM and would soon announce his new party.
Raila stalwarts led by Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang, a close ally of the PM, on Sunday played down the impact of Mudavadiâs decision to ditch ODM, and insisted the partyâs priority is to amend sections of its constitution to forestall further divisions.
But those in ODM pushing for Mudavadiâs speedy replacement told The Standard last evening that with Raila now virtually assured of being the Orange partyâs presidential candidate in the coming elections, the focus has now shifted to getting him a suitable running mate.
Although the group says Raila should expand his scope and get a running mate from other parts of the country and not necessarily western Kenya, House Speaker Kenneth Marendeâs name has been floated as a compromise running mate.
Running mate
Those in favour of Marende say he would reduce the damage done to ODM and Raila in western Kenya by Mudavadiâs exit. "There is a group which wants Speaker Kenneth Marende to work with the Prime Minister so that he can later join him as his running mate," said one source.
They emphasised that Marendeâs name was among others floated, each with their merits and disadvantages. Efforts by The Standard on Sunday to get a reaction from Marende to the claims were futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Other names floated include Agriculture minister Dr Sally Kosgei and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey in Rift Valley, and Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim in North Eastern. The names of Health Minister Charity Ngilu and Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imnayara both from the Lower Eastern region have also been considered.
