Stop killing ODM, Ruto, Raila told

By Standard On Sunday Team

"Stop killing the party!" — this is the terse warning by members of the ODM Pentagon to party leader Raila Odinga and his deputy William Ruto.

Members of the once powerful organ warn that the party risks losing its national appeal if differences among leaders are not resolved.

Cracks in ODM seem to widen by the day. At the heart of ODM woes are differences between the PM and Agriculture Minister Ruto over several issues, including how to deal with suspects of post-election violence and the Mau forest settlers’ eviction.

The Pentagon comprises five politicians who vied for the ODM presidential ticket, which Raila won. They are Raila, Ruto, Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi, Cooperatives Development Minister Joe Nyagah and Tourism Minister Najib Balala.

When Cabinet minister Charity Ngilu ditched the Government and her party Narc became an affiliate of ODM, she was co-opted into the Pentagon.

A month ago, a source disclosed to ‘The Standard on Sunday’, the Pentagon met over differences between Raila and Ruto.

Failed reconciliation

Najib Balala: ODM Pentagon member

Chairty Ngilu: ODM Pentagon member

Musalia Mudavadi: ODM Pentagon member

But the source said: "It appears the meeting has not had any impact."

Mudavadi concedes that there are political camps in the party. However, the ever-cautious Deputy Prime Minister describes the Raila-Ruto friction as "differences of opinion".

"Definitely, there have been differences of opinion between the two, but that will not affect party operations," he told ‘The Standard on Sunday’ last week.

On the campaign trail in Shinyalu, he indirectly touched on the internal feud.

"Misunderstandings are bound to occur in a large party like ODM. We are, however, united and we want to strengthen the party even further," he said.

He, however, maintained that the situation was under control: "We are ably handling what is unfolding under a different forum and I cannot, therefore, divulge details on the matter."

But Mr Balala warns that ODM risks losing its national appeal if differences among leaders are not resolved.

He said the widening rift threatens the future of the party and should be resolved immediately.

Speaking to The Standard on Sunday in exclusive interview in Mombasa, Balala said the first challenge for ODM was appointment o ministers.

"It was a difficult task for the PM and he tried to balance when he made unilateral nominations," he said.

He, however, pointed out that dissatisfaction over the appointments has ended, but the debate over a local tribunal for post-election violence suspects still divides the party.

He said the matter was the beginning of the rift between Raila and Ruto.

"Those who raped and killed should be punished because that was criminal. But trying to fix some leaders for calling for mass action is misplaced," he said.

Raila has favoured a local tribunal to try the suspects, but Ruto roots for the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Parliament rejected a Bill to set up a tribunal and the Cabinet has opted for local courts and focus on reconciliation.

But Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara has drafted a Bill that proposes local tribunal and Raila has voiced his support for it. Ruto has criticised those rooting for a proposed law that "Parliament rejected".

Balala says since President Kibaki and Raila signed the National Accord and forgave each other, it would be wrong to look for politicians to blame.

Ngilu, too, is concerned over the woes in ODM. Campaigning for the party candidate in Bomachoge this week, she warned that differences among leaders could cost the party Bomachoge and Shinyalu seats.

In a previous interview with ‘The Standard On Sunday’, Ngilu said part of the problem in ODM stems from the fact that "some politicians, such as Ruto, harbour presidential ambitions".

Call for caution

"It is perfectly in order to nurse such ambitions — in fact I personally nurse similar ambition. The only problem is they are going about it by ruffling feathers within," she said.

Ngilu has embarked on a mission to get the PM and the Agriculture minister to the negotiation table. She maintains that "ODM’s botched dream ought to be realised in 2012".

However, Mr Nyagah found the Raila-Ruto wars too hot a potato to discuss and declined to comment.

He evaded our reporter’s questions at Kiritiri market in Mbeere West District on Friday.

But even as solutions are sought, Balala cautions against attempts to resolve problems in the party through tribal emissaries.

He said he does not approve of a recent bid by elders to resolve differences between Raila and Ruto. He instead called for a more national approach.

Two weeks ago, Kalenjin and Luo elders met in an effort to mend bridges between Raila and Ruto.

"We did not come together as a tribal grouping. We went to ODM with a national focus and we do not want party issues to be reduced to tribal issues," he said.

Balala also called on MPs calling for the sacking of some ministers to be cautious in their utterances. He said it was wrong to forget the contribution of party leaders in making ODM what it is today.

"The ODM Pentagon members have value and they cannot be ignored collectively or individually. When an MP says so-and-so should be sacked, I think they hurt the party," Balala said.

Stories by Jibril Adan, Oscar Obonyo and Munene Kamau

 

 

Read all about: Ruto Raila Pentagon National Accord Musalia Mudavadi Joe Nyagah Najib Balala Charity Ngilu

 

 

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