Raila Odinga reaches out to Ababu Namwamba as he visits MP's Budalang'i turf

A section of Budalang'i residents carry placards at Mau Mau as they protested against visit of CORD leader Raila Odinga yesterday. Raila was in a reconciliatory mood as he made his first entry in Busia County since rebellion rocked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). (PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA/ STANDARD)

CORD leader Raila Odinga was yesterday in a reconciliatory mood as he made his first entry in Busia County since rebellion rocked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Raila pitched tent in Budalang’i and Funyula constituencies, the home turf of MPs Ababu Namwamba and Paul Otuoma, who have since resigned as ODM secretary general and vice chairman respectively. The CORD leaderasked the two MPs "to come back home" and even went further to term Namwamba as his son.

He maintained that the rebellion bedevilling the Orange party was "a small internal issue that will be resolved".

"I am asking our two sons to come back home. What we are experiencing is a small domestic problem. Take my greetings to Ababu and tell him the door is still open. We need to walk together in this political journey," said Raila during a public rally at Lunyofu Primary School.

 Raila further said the Jubilee administration was scared of his supremacy in Western, and added that the ruling party's top officials were behind the revolt in the Orange party.

"Jubilee is worried, and that is why they are busy rushing to Western and causing all this noise. They are busy asking residents what I have done for the Budalang'i people. What have they, as a government, done for the Budalang'i people?" posed Raila.

The Opposition leader made several stopovers in Mau Mau market, Mau Mau stadium, Busagwa, Ruambwa, Budalang'i market and Port Victoria. He later held the the rally at Lunyofu Primary School.

The reception was largely warm but there were several reports that police used teargas to disperse supporters of Namwamba and those of Raila, who were about to clash at Port Victoria Market.

Police denied the reports.

There were also cases where youths burnt ODM T-shirts and posters as they chanted songs.

Speaking to The Standard by telephone, Namwamba wondered why Raila spent more than half of his day in Budalang'i. He accused the CORD leader of intimidating locals using goons.

"The programme covered three constituencies of Bugalang'i, Funyula and Butula. However, he (Raila) spent 90 per cent of his time in Budalang'i. Even if he comes to Budalang'i a million times, nothing will change," said Namwamba.

After Budalang'i, Raila toured Funyula constituency where he had several stopovers, including at Bumala market.

At some roadside stops, crowds waved Ababu placards while singing songs in his praise.

Reacting to the roadside groups in Budalang'i, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said: "On the roadside I saw our supporters who want to come back home. Those are ODM supporters; Baba please forgive them."

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar echoed Raila's sentiments and said there was no crisis in CORD, stressing that their presence in Budalang'i was not about Ababu.

"A simple departure of a few individuals is not evidence enough that the coalition has been shaken. We are not here because Ababu has left. We are here to polish up because the coalition is strong," said Omar, and asked Namwamba to return.

"Ababu is my brother. He should come back home," added Omar.

 Omar asked Western residents to remain firm in CORD and work towards the 2017 presidency.

"Western should be firm in the Opposition, but we cannot continue to have the numbers without a strategy. Numbers without a strategy counts for little," said Omar.

Raila faulted the Jubilee government for not initiating any meaningful development project in Busia.

The ODM leader urged residents to support his presidential bid next year, saying he had their interests at heart.

"I am still with the people of Western, and my journey to the presidency is still on. I ask for your support. I will not allow busybodies to confuse or misguide my supporters in Western," said Raila.

He was accompanied by, among others, Governors Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho, Sospeter Ojaamong, Cornel Rasanga, Senator Agnes Zani and MPs John Mbadi, Fred Outa, Andrew Toboso, Godfrey Odanga, Florence Mutua and Aisha Jumwa.

The former premier also chaired a closed-door meeting with ODM officials at Port Victoria.

Zani, who is the ODM acting secretary general, said the party would not be swayed by the voices of a few disgruntled individuals.