ODM is headed for rough times at the Coast, as it appears that the party’s point man in the region, Tourism Minister Najib Balala, is not pleased with the way party affairs are being conducted and managed.

At the weekend the usually soft-spoken Balala convened a rare news conference and unleashed a tirade against the party bigwigs.

Without mincing words, he said the party was steeped in tribal politics and warned that this could cripple it ahead of the 2012 General Election.

Balala said it was not right for a section of party leaders to shout down Agriculture minister William Ruto for declaring his presidential ambition.

Mr Balala has been a strong supporter of both Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Mr Ruto and has also defended the ODM Pentagon whenever there was need.

When the Grand Coalition Government was being formed in 2008, there were some quiet manouvres to bar Ruto from being appointed to the Cabinet.

Balala, in his usual fashion of standing up for the party, vowed that ODM would not form any government with their PNU counterparts if Ruto was not allowed to join the Cabinet. Both President Kibaki and Raila were left with no option but to make Ruto a minister following Balala’s crusade.

Therefore, it was not uncharacteristic of Balala when he came out over the weekend to speak his mind on the goings on in ODM.

Safeguard democracy

He was defending the right of Ruto to announce his candidature, which has been criticised by other ODM MPs mainly from Nyanza, led by Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch.

"It is sad that political parties are becoming dictatorial. Those interested in the presidency have a democratic right to do so and should not be threatened.

"Ruto and I and even other members of ODM have a right to express presidential ambitions," Balala said.

Balala noted that some politicians who joined ODM and Raila recently were trying to introduce politics practised during the single party era, which threatens ODM.

Although he did not endorse Ruto’s candidacy for the presidency, Balala censured those asking the Agriculture minister to quit ODM for declaring his interest to run for the top office.

"We will stand steadfast and safeguard democracy within the party. Those advocating for single party politics and threatening others to quit ODM are destroying the party," he warned.

The Mvita MP said he would not bow out because of threats from "undemocratic forces".

Balala said he would make his stand known on the presidential race once a new constitution and reforms in the civil service were in place.

"We should allow for democratic space. We should shun tribalism in political parties," he said.

Last week, Ruto’s declaration that he will be running for President in 2012 seemed to have opened a new front in his rivalry with the Prime Minister.

Those opposed to his presidential ambitions see a plot to rock ODM from within, but others, including Balala, view this as internal democracy.

String of attacks

Balala insisted that ODM members with presidential ambitions should be allowed to compete in a democratic process.

Since a few months after the formation of the coalition government, Balala has been facing a string of attacks from sections of the ODM leadership at the coast.

Eyebrows were raised when Kisauni MP Hassan Joho was elected as ODM organising secretary in the party election, while Balala got none.

Observers said the move was an attempt by the party leadership to sideline the Tourism minister while at the same time prop up Joho.

Mombasa Mayor Abubakar Mohdhar, who was backed by Joho during the mayoral polls, has not left any available opportunity to hit out at Balala.

Balala’s brother contested with Mohdhar for the mayoral seat, but was defeated and ever since Mohdhar has not hidden his differences with the minister.

Suffer setbacks

At a retreat organised by ODM for coast councillors at Wild Waters last year, the mayor criticised Balala in the presence of Raila.

Balala also said some of the leaders in the party were being used as sacrificial lambs for the post-election violence.

The minister said he was innocent, but was being put in the top list of those suspected of inciting violence.

"We are being put in the top list, but our conscience is clear. We stood to protect our rights through legal and constitutional demonstrations. We never incited killings against anyone," he said.

During the last elections, Balala worked closely with Council of Imams and Preachers and the National Leaders Forum to campaign for Raila among Muslims.

Balala still enjoys a close relationship with the two organisations.

All indications are that ODM, which enjoyed an overwhelming support at the Coast could suffer some setbacks come the 2012 polls if the party does not move fast to streamline its operations.

Observers say that ODM could be eyeing other coast MPs, including Joho, to be its point men should it lose Balala, but it is an obvious fact to those familiar with local politics that there are few MPs in the region who have the power to unify the locals.

Balala also wants the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC) not to split Coast Province, saying the current size was suitable for a devolved government, which is being floated in the constitution review process.

"Splitting Coast will undermine a majimbo government because as a small region it will not have adequate resources to run its affairs," Balala said. He, however, demanded more constituencies for the region saying it got a raw deal since independence, as it was denied new elective seats.