We have a bigger contest ahead of us, wrangling ODM leaders told

Leaders from Nyanza have expressed fear that their continued bickering may cost Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga the presidency in 2017.

The ODM leaders are worried that wrangling and public spats among them portrays the party as disjointed and could open room for rivals to penetrate the region.

Perhaps the most outstanding rivalry within the party is the spat between ODM national chairman John Mbadi and Rarieda legislator Nicholas Gumbo, a feud that started when the latter was chosen as chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the National Assembly.

When the seat fell vacant last year, Mbadi had claimed he was more deserving to succeed ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba by virtue of being the senior most party official in the National Assembly. But Gumbo beat him to head the powerful committee.

Mbadi has also downplayed Gumbo’s aspirations for the Siaya gubernatorial seat, claiming he doesn’t stand a chance against Senator James Orengo, whose bid the ODM chair is supporting.

The differences between Mbadi and Gumbo have angered other elected leaders like Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, who lashed out at the two during the funeral of West Uyoma Ward Representative Mathews Odeny Onduru at Uyoma, in Siaya last weekend.

“MPs should go back to Nairobi and help the CORD leader in checking the Jubilee government. Mbadi and Gumbo should stop this public spat, it is embarrassing Raila,” said Midiwo.

Midiwo warned that it was time leaders in Nyanza put their act together so as not to ruin Raila’s chances, and asked Mbadi to concentrate on strengthening the party at the national level and not engage in supremacy battles with other leaders.

“We must bring peace home and unite against a common enemy for us to make it in 2017,” he said.

So tense was the situation at the funeral that a lorry and five trucks full of police officers had to be deployed to the venue following reports that chaos could erupt.

The ODM leadership is also not happy with the rivalry between Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.

Grassroots polls

The two fell out after the party grassroots elections, which Wanga was declared to have won. Kaluma has refused to recognise her, claiming the party rigged him out.  The two have been engaged in public spats over the matter since.

In a new twist to the rivalry, Homa Bay Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata recently filed a complaint with the police over an “offensive” text message Wanga allegedly sent him. But Wanga also recorded a statement, accusing Orata of planning to scuttle her meetings.

So bad is the situation in Homa Bay that Raila has asked Nominated MP Oburu Oginga to mediate between the feuding sides.

“I have offered to mediate between the warring factions in Homa Bay to bring sanity and cohesion within the party,” said Oburu.

A planned meeting between the two sides one week ago did not take place after Oburu did not show up.

In Kisii, another ODM stronghold, Deputy Governor Joash Maangi is at cross-roads with his party after he was suspended for leading a delegation of Kisii leaders to Deputy President William Ruto. Maangi is accused of being disloyal to the party.

A week ago, Kisii County ODM officials led by Senator Chris Obure chaired a reconciliation meeting where the aggrieved parties pledged to work together.

But two days later, Maangi led 25 MCAs to demand for a proper audit of the 2014/15 budget expenditure, claiming some county executives could not explain what they had done with allocations to their respective ministries and putting him at loggerheads with Governor James Ongwae.

Maangi, who is the chairman of the Deputy Governor’s Council, has expressed his wish to work with the National Government and seems to be enjoying the backing of Jubilee-allied leaders from the region, including Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka.

Early campaigns

Sources blamed the fall outs in the Orange party on pronouncements by Raila’s perceived close allies that they will run for gubernatorial seats in the region come 2017.

So far, Orengo and Gumbo have declared they will run for the Siaya governor’s seat, while Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o and Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga say they will contest against Governor Jack Ranguma.

In Kisii, Senator Obure and Maangi have said they will run for the seat.

The ODM party, through its Secretary for Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi, has warned aspirants against early campaigns.

Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda and Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro have called for dialogue among the leaders, saying the feuds are tainting the party’s image.

“We have a bigger fight ahead of us. Let us sort out our affairs and not expose ourselves to our rivals. The continued bickering is scaring away potential voters,” said Ongoro.