Key regional players in ODM’s 2007 bid revealed

By WAHOME THUKU

Prosecutor: You recall telling us that part of the ODM strategy generally was the use of banners and rallies in various regions to drum up support and hopefully to win the elections?

Witness: Yes, I recall.

Prosecutor: Bearing in mind that the ODM headquarters was based in Nairobi how was this strategy implemented in various provinces?

Witness: ODM had its key leaders most of them Pentagon members. They had other aspirants but members of the Pentagon were the key leaders, who had the responsibility to reach and coordinate the provinces where they came from through the party structure on the ground.

Prosecutor: You used the words “coordinate”, does that mean coordinators were utilised in the various provinces by the key pentagon members?

Witness:  Yes.

Prosecutor: Help us if you can, what would be the role that these coordinators played in the implementation of the ODM strategy in the provinces?

Witness: Most of the coordinators, came from the provinces. Within the structure of ODM there was a body called the National Elections Board which had coordinators representing every region and most of these coordinators were seconded to help coordinate elections through the Pentagon leaders who would go and identify some of them on the ground, and present them to the board.

Prosecutor: Would it be fair to say therefore that the coordinators ought to be familiar with the provinces where they were coordinating?

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor: Are you aware of how many coordinators represented ODM in each province?

 Witness: Yes, I can remember some by their names.

Prosecutor: Could you help us please.

 Witness: I will start with Nyanza Province. The coordinator was retired Justice Richard Kwach.

Prosecutor: Were there any other coordinators for Nyanza Province?

Witness: Nyanza was divided into two. Mr Kwach was helped by the Executive Director Ms Janet Ongera and the Treasurer was also from Nyanza - Mr Omingo Magara.

Prosecutor: Would it be fair to say Mr Magara was the third coordinator of Nyanza province?

Witness: The three I have mentioned were coordinating Nyanza, Madam Janet and Mr Magara were coordinating part of Kisii region and Justice Kwach represented Luo Nyanza region.

Prosecutor: Will that be all for Nyanza Province or were there any others?

Witness: We had also constituency coordinators and aspirants who could reach the people on the ground.

Prosecutor: Could we move to the next province please.

Witness: There was Western Province which was being coordinated by Mr Kubasu Flavian.

Prosecutor: Was Mr Kubasu the only coordinator for the Western Province?

Witness: Western Province was under running mate Mr Musalia Mudavadi and he is the one who had Mr Kubasu on the ground.

Prosecutor: Were there any other coordinators for Western Province?

Witness: There were a number of aspirants nominated to run on the ODM ticket.

Prosecutor: Could we proceed to the next province please.

Witness: We had Coast Province, the Pentagon leader was Mr Najib Balala and the coordinator was Dr Mutana Lewa.

Prosecutor: To your knowledge was Dr Lewa the only coordinator or were there others helping him?

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor: Could you proceed to the next province.

Witness: We had central Province, the coordinator was Ms Mumbi Ng’aru.
 

Prosecutor: Was she the main coordinator of was there others helping her?

Witness: There were some people on the ground helping her.

Prosecutor: Next province please

Witness: We had Upper Eastern, which was coordinated by Mr Joseph Nyagah who was the Pentagon leader.
 

Prosecutor: Was he the only coordinator in Upper Eastern or did he have others assisting him?

Witness: There were others assisting him but I don’t know their names.
 

Prosecutor: Could we move on to the next province.

Witness: There was also Eastern, which was being coordinated by Madam Ngilu assisted by other coordinators, I don’t know their names.

Prosecutor: Could that be madam Charity Ngilu

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor: Another province please.

Witness: There was also Rift Valley province. The ODM Pentagon leader was Mr William Ruto.

Prosecutor: Do you recall who the co-ordinator or co-ordinators were for Rift Valley Province?

Witness: There was North Rift and South Rift.

Prosecutor: Could we start with North Rift please?

Witness: There was a co-ordinator by the name Josephine Kuluo.

Prosecutor: Was there also a co-ordinator in charge of South Rift?

Witness: There was a co-ordinator called Ole Kina Koitamet.

Prosecutor: Do you know what particular role these particular individuals played in the Rift Valley on behalf of the ODM?

Witness: First of all they were overseeing the nomination process during the ODM nominations period. They were also working on some of the campaign material to be distributed within the area. They would also help in case of disputes during nominations. Returning officers on the ground could also report to them and the nominated candidates. They could also, through the leader, co-ordinate preparations for rallies.

Prosecutor: Would it be fair to say, therefore, that the co-ordinators on the ground reported directly to the key Pentagon leaders?

(Khan objects, saying it’s a leading question).

Prosecutor: Whom did these co-ordinators report to directly?

Witness: The co-ordinators were reporting to the National Elections Board and also had to give information to their key Pentagon member.

Prosecutor: The two names you have provided us with as regards Rift Valley, do you know who these co-ordinators reported to?

 Witness: Yes, they had to report to the key Pentagon leader for the area, William Ruto, and the chairman of the elections board, Richard Kwach.

Prosecutor: How did these co-ordinators come to be nominated and appointed?

Witness: The co-ordinators were introduced and appointed by the key Pentagon members who were in charge of the provinces.

Prosecutor: Do you know who appointed Josephine Kuluo for the North Rift and Ole Kina Koitamet for the South Rift?

Witness: It was the ODM key Pentagon member representing the Rift Valley who appointed them.

Prosecutor: Would that be Mr Wiliam Ruto?

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor: You referred earlier to the nominees and the co-ordinators responsible for the provinces. What nominations are we talking about?

Witness: The ODM party nominations.

Prosecutor: Nominations for which positions within the ODM?

Witness: For parliamentary seats, for constituencies and civic seats for the wards.

Prosecutor: Would the key Pentagon member who had appointed co-ordinators have influence over the nominee?

Witness: Yes, because they were also capable of knowing the party loyalists who would also serve the party interests and work within the party policy and manifesto. They had to go for candidates who were loyal to the party so they had influence.

Prosecutor: These were nominations and nominees for the party candidacy rather than actual positions in the government?

Witness: Yes, these were party nominations, not general elections.