ODM elections enter homestretch as intense intra-party fights loom

By OSCAR OBONYO                                                                         

KENYA: The exit of Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o and former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, has paved way for an exciting contest in the forthcoming ODM elections.

With Siaya Senator James Orengo  and other experienced politicians expected to follow suit, the development is expected to accord room for youthful politicians to join leadership positions within the giant Orange party.  

“There have been calls that the old guards should pave way for younger politicians and we in the Orange party are just responding to that by accommodating youthful leaders in order that we have a good blend of experience and youthful energy,” former Prime Minister and Orange party leader Raila Odinga, explained on Wednesday when Nyong’o and Marende opted out of the party polls.

The exit of Nyong’o from the powerful position of Secretary General also gives the party leader an opportunity to “donate” the seat to another region with a view to giving the giant Orange party a national outlook.

But such a possibility has sparked off resistance in Raila’s Nyanza region backyard with local politicians maintaining the Secretary General post, besides Raila’s own party leadership position, must be reserved for Nyanza.        

South Mugirango MP, Manson Nyamweya, faults the bid describing his Nyanza region colleagues as “enemies of Raila and our party”, whose selfish actions are driven by political greed.

“They want one of their own in this position in order to manipulate the pre-poll nomination exercise and give the former PM a bad name as they have always done. They simply want somebody who can dish to them nomination certificates and it does not matter to them whether Raila or our party wins the elections,” claims Nyamweya, who is eyeing the position of national Chairman. 

Rival party

In contrast, Nyamweya admires the way politicians allied to rival party, The National Alliance (TNA), sacrificed personal ambitions to rally behind Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid. He singles out former Finance minister Robinson Githae, as among those who even opted not to vie for parliamentary seat.

But Rarieda MP, Nicholas Gumbo, explains that the wish of Nyanza politicians to stake claim on the Secretary General’s position, is driven by the fact that ODM has its bedrock support in the region.

“We are however not insisting on this as a criterion for electing our next party Secretary General. The individual we identify for that position must be one with an impressive grassroots outreach and one who can help the party and our leader win national elections,” says Gumbo, a candidate for the position.

As the campaigns peak ahead of the polls, The Standard On Sunday has established the emergence of three major camps. There is one headed by Funyula MP, Dr Paul Otuoma, a candidate for chairmanship and includes Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ (Vice Chair), Nominated Senator Dr Agnes Zani (Secretary General), Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire (Treasurer) and Mbalambala MP Abdikadir Omar-Aden (Organising Secretary).

Tigania East MP Aburi Mpuri (Chairman) leads another team, whose members include Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero (Vice-Chair), Kisumu Town MP Ken Obura (Secretary General), Bomachoge MP Simon Ogari (Treasurer) and former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa (Organising Secretary).

Finally, Nyamweya’s team includes Wajir West MP Aden Keynan for a position yet to be confirmed, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba (Secretary General), Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga (Treasurer) and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo (Organising Secretary).

Internal talks

The Standard On Sunday has however learnt that the camps have not fully been concretized as movement within the campaign groupings is still fluid as internal negotiations continue. So far, Rarieda MP Gumbo and Turkana County Governor Josephat Nanok, who is eyeing the position of Vice-Chairman, are projecting themselves as independent candidates, who are unattached to any political grouping.     

Sources within ODM indicate that so far Raila and Mombasa County Governor, Hassan Joho, remain unchallenged for the positions of party leader and deputy party leader.

All the aspirants who spoke to The Standard On Sunday explained their suitability with Otuoma promising to build and strengthen structures in ODM “to a level where the party can survive beyond the whims of individuals”.

“Like any other association, ODM has its own challenges but what matters is how well we can respond to such situations and the environment. I believe I have what it takes to show the way,” said the former Cabinet minister. Mpuri maintained he had been steadfast in his support for the party, besides the fact that he was the only solid candidate from the former Eastern Province region: “That I managed to win a seat against the TNA wave in my region is reason enough that I am an electoral schemer per excellence and these are the skills that ODM requires.”

Similarly, Nyamweya boasts of similar ability and his history as a university student leader and the first Chairman of the original Ford-Kenya in Kisii region in the 1990s. He faults his challengers of playing sycophancy instead of being honest with the former PM of his political challenges.

Meanwhile, Gumbo, who is credited by colleagues in Nyanza for dedicating personal resources and time to promote party activities in the region, maintains he is best to steer the party, thanks to his grassroots mobilisation skills.

Zani on the other hands says she opted for the position of Secretary General because the demands of the job are purely administrative and organisational “because this is where I best fit”.

“There is no denying that as the operational nerve of the party, most of the tasks of the position are political, but the holder requires to be well grounded in organizational and human resource management skills. Besides, my background helps me to understand the dynamics of people-behaviour and interact with them well,” says Dr Zani, until recently a sociology lecturer at the University of Nairobi.     

Marende withdrawal

Separately, the withdrawal of former Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Otiato Marende, from the race has created new challenges to ODM, which hopes to maintain a strong hold on the western Kenya region. 

The exit of the former Emuhaya MP now leaves Otuoma and Namwamba, as the strong faces of the party in the region. Those close to the former Speaker attribute his move to alleged personal and business interests. It is claimed that the former Speaker is currently doing business with the Government, through various consultancy jobs, including preparations ahead of a major conference of the global parliamentary group to be hosted in Kenya.

On Friday, Marende told The Standard on Saturday that his decision not to run was a ‘tactful retreat’. He also dismissed claims he could have been offered a job by the Jubilee government.