Sifuna faction plans Mombasa rally amid ODM tensions

Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. [File, Standard]

The ODM faction allied to the party’s secretary general Edwin Sifuna will hold their rally at Tononoka ground in Mombasa on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a section of ODM delegates from Mombasa yesterday said they have not been invited to the party's National Delegates Conference NDC slated for today in Nairobi.

The party’s deputy branch chairman in Mvita constituency, Gichana Obonyo, said many delegates in the Coast region were not invited to attend the controversial NDC meeting because they are branded as rebels.

Gichana also said some delegates who were invited have declined to go to NDC in Nairobi, terming the meeting illegal.

“I know there are many delegates, including me, who were not invited because they are branded as rebels and supporters of the party's secretary general, Edwin Sifuna.

Gichana claimed Oburu's faction feared that those allied to Sifuna, if allowed to attend NDC, would stage a coup against Dr Oburu Oginga. 

Gichana, however, said despite some delegates not having been invited, they were still in ODM, which believes in the late Raila Odinga's political ideologies.

A delegate who spoke to the Standard on condition of not being mentioned confirmed that the party’s legal office called her to find out if she would attend the meeting.

“I was called by somebody from the ODM legal office in Nairobi who wanted to know if I was going to attend the NDC slated for Friday. But I told him I will not do so,” said the delegate.

However, the delegate, after being pressed, admitted she would not attend the meeting following confusion in the party.

Gichana, who is coordinating the ODM Sifuna faction in Mombasa, confirmed that the party's faction is planning to have a rally on Sunday.

He, however, said they had agreed to have a meeting of all party factions operating differently in the town to make them speak with one voice before the Sunday party rally.

"We have organised a meeting for all ODM leaders in Mombasa at the Little Theatre to make sure we are speaking with one voice," said Gichana.

Obonyo confirmed that some parties' advance teams were already in Mombasa to plan the party’s rally, which will be attended by politicians who love Raila’s politics.

“We have already given the police notice to have a rally on Sunday, and we expect the police not to disrupt the rally,” said Gichana.

Among those expected at the Sunday rally are Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and other opposition leaders.

Mombasa ODM branch chairman Khamis Dee welcomed the party leaders' meeting rally in the town.

“We welcome them to hold a political rally in Mombasa. But we are asking them to be peaceful because Mombasa people want peace,” said Dee.

Dee is among the delegates from Mombasa who are in Nairobi to attend the NDC slated for today in Nairobi.