By PROTUS ONYANGO and DENNIS ONYANGO

Kenya: The Orange Democratic Movement’s younger MPs from Nyanza have regrouped and are preparing to take on the ‘old guard’ in move they say will re-energise the party.

They say they want to launch various development initiatives in Nyanza then ultimately challenge older politicians from the region for party positions.

The first step is simple, says Millie Odhiambo, a member of the group and its current chairperson.

“We will donate money to develop our constituencies even as we serve our constituents,” says Odhiambo. “We are focused and shouldn’t be taken for granted,” said the Mbita MP.

Some of the ‘young turks’ include Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), George Oner (Rangwe), Jared K’Opiyo (Awendo), Silvanus Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Junet Mohamed (Suna East), John Mbadi (Suba) and David Ochieng (Ugenya).

Obura has declared he will vie for the Secretary General’s position when the party holds its next delegates’ conference.  Although the younger politicians from ODM’s Nyanza stronghold have been dismissed as upstarts and accused of cozying up the Jubilee government, its members say the party must do things differently if  it wants party leader Raila Odinga to secure the presidency in 2017.

Raila himself has once described the group as “lizards climbing trees hoping that people will see them,” but this was before a rebellion against the party’s old guard exploded at an abortive delegates’ conference in February when violence broke.

The young turks say they have lined up a series of monthly fundraisers – the next one will be held at John Mbadi’s Suba constituency, said Odhiambo.

“We want to rebrand ODM and make it a formidable party. Right now it is like a leaking house that should be repaired,” said Odhiambo.  Kisumu Central’s Obura, wants the party to develop a succession plan.

“When I declared to run for the party’s Secretary General in the aborted national elections, I was called names and forced to abandon my quest,” Obura said.

Party interests

 “We have the party’s interest at heart and that is why we want to re-invigorate it with new ideas. We reaffirm our support for Raila in the 2017 election but we are not happy with the way some of our old politicians are carrying themselves,” he said.

The Young Turks have accused some Senators and MPs from the region of cashing in on Raila’s  popularity in Nyanza to win favours from others but do nothing for the party.

“It is unfortunate some politicians such as Senator Otieno Kajwang are involved in weakening ODM by scaring away members of the party. We are committed to ensuring that we the presidency,” said Neto.

Awendo MP Jared K’Opiyo appealed to politicians to weigh their words carefully otherwise they would polarise the party and weaken it well before   2017 General election.  “There must always be freedom of expression in any democratic society but it is harmful for a member of this coalition to tell any member who has expressed an opinion to quit a party. Politics depends on numbers but the moment a member ditches his or her political party, they go with their supporters and weaken the party,” Opiyo added.

Kajwang appears to have borne the brunt of much of their criticism with Kabondo Kasipul MP Silvanus Osele accusing him of adding little value to the party. “Kajwang keeps harping on his experience but he was with Raila during 2007 and 2013 General election when victory eluded him. When we say the truth, they claim we were sent by the Jubilee Coalition. Let them accept change,” Osele added.

Rangwe’s George Oner   weighed in and said Kajwang does not have a strong development record, sentiments shared by former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo who replaced the Homa Bay Senator as the ODM branch chairman recently.

“We are fed up with him and that is why we have new party leaders to revamp ODM in the region,” said Ogindo.

However, Kajwang dismissed the group and said they were Jubilee moles and could not be trusted. “They are accusing me but they can’t lead ODM better than us. I will keep reminding them every time they make mistakes because they are out to wreck ODM,” Kajwang said.

And speaking at Got Rateng’ Secondary School in Kabondo Kasipul Constituency, Odhiambo said their aim was to restore order in ODM. “If your house is leaking, you have to look for ways of renovating the roof. But it is unfortunate that if you want to point out misconduct in the party ,then some people want to oust you over claimn you are serving interests of other political parties,” Millie said.

 

—Additonal reporting by James Omoro