ODM in rallies to prepare for Uhuru-Raila alliance and referendum

President Uhuru Kenyatta withODM leader Raila Odinga during the 25 anniversary ceremony at Kisumu Catholic Arch dioceses in KIsumu on June 29 2015. [File, Standard]

The Orange party has lined up a series of public rallies in Nyanza to prepare the region for a possible political alliance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga.

Party insiders yesterday told The Standard the rallies were also meant to prepare grounds for a referendum that would expand the Executive to create the position of a powerful Prime Minister.

Raila is expected to lead the region’s politicians in a public rally to be held in Nyatike Constituency in Migori County this Friday.

On Saturday, a host of ODM MPs will be in Homa Bay County to drum up support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and rally it to remain firm.

The first rally by the ODM MPs was held last weekend in Kisumu and was hosted by Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch (Ford-Kenya) even as it emerged that the outfit was also trying to reach out to MPs who ditched the party over bungled nominations.

Some of the events will be graced by Mt Kenya politicians allied to the President to sink home the unity pact between the two leaders.

“The main agenda of the rallies is to prepare our people for a possible political alliance between the two leaders,” said a senior party official.

The insider further said their colleagues from Uhuru’s backyard were also rallying their electorate to back the Uhuru-Raila deal.

Nominated MP Maina Kamanda and former MP Kabando wa Kabando last week also hinted at a possible alliance, giving credence to Uhuru’s ally David Murathe and Raila’s Siaya Senator James Orengo's earlier remarks that an alliance was in the offing ahead of the 2022 General Election.

Nyando MP Jared Okello (pictured) said the country was likely to go for a referendum after the BBI team concludes gathering proposals from different interest groups.

He confirmed that the rallies were meant to rally the electorate to back change of the 2010 Constitution.

Raila is pushing for a parliamentary system, where a Prime Minister would be the head of Government and President to serve a ceremonial Head of State role.

Uhuru has also indicated his support to change from the current Presidential system, saying the winner-takes-it-all arrangement was not good for the country’s unity.

Party chairman John Mbadi, however, denied reports that the party was rallying the region to accept an Uhuru-Raila alliance for 2022 polls.

Mr Mbadi said the agenda of the rallies was to drum up support for the unity and war against corruption push by the two leaders.

“Our position is clear that 2022 is still far and cannot be part of our agenda at the moment,” he said.