By Stephen Makabila
As Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi takes his ODM presidential nomination campaigns to Isiolo on Sunday, his allies assert they will not ditch the Orange party.
They say no amount of propaganda will make the deputy party leader and his allies quit. Mudavadiâs camp says claims that Speaker Kenneth Marende and Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula are lined up to replace him in ODM should he take off do not bother them.
They, however, remain rigid on their push to have nominations at the counties. Mudavadiâs supporters are also dismiss a clause in the party constitution, which gives party leader Raila Odinga automatic presidential nomination.
By last weekend, Mudavadi had campaigned in 31 counties and from Friday, he hit the road with campaigns in Muranga, before moving to Nyeri on Saturday, Isiolo today, and Samburu County tomorrow. He has 12 more counties to wind up.
"Reports that Mudavadi may be planning an exit from ODM are propaganda. He cannot leave a permanent house to seek refuge in a grass-thatched house," said Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito.
Last week, some ODM MPs claimed the party was seeking alternatives in the event the contest between Mudavadi and the PM leads to a falling out.
Another Mudavadi ally, John Chikati, who is eyeing the seat of national organising secretary in ODM, also argued Mudavadi will have to fight from within ODM to the bitter end.
"At the moment, our position is that Mudavadi is in the race and any attempt to block him will not be accepted," said Chikati, a former Kimilili ODM chairman.
Delegates meeting
In dismissing the contentious clause in the party constitution, Kizito says the National Delegates Conference has never met to ratify it. "NDC has never met to ratify the clause. It was sneaked in and it remains illegal to date," said the MP.
A member of the ODM National Election Board Charles Welangai cautioned against attempts to use the clause to bar Mudavadi from the partyâs nomination contest.
