MPs allied to Raila dismiss KKK alliance

By Anderson Ojwang’ and George Olwenya

Seven ODM MPs, including six ministers, have said they are ready for a grand battle with opponents in next year’s General Election.

They asked Prime Minister Raila Odinga to allow them start a countrywide campaign for the party in readiness for the polls.

They said a plot had been hatched to demean and dent the image of the party and to make Raila appear irrelevant in the 2012 elections.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi said ODM should be wary of current political games.

Build bridges

"The politics is designed to make Raila look like he is walking alone. Tribal presidential candidates are being cropped up to undermine his bid for the top seat," he said.

Using a Luhya proverb, Mudavadi said that it was possible for a pot carrying water to break at the doorstep when its carrier slides.

"ODM is at the door to presidency and we must guard against any fall," he said.

Mudavadi assured Raila of support, but said it was important for the party to build bridges to end tribal political groupings.

Raila reassured his supporters that ODM was strong and it would win the elections.

"Leadership is not based on age but on knowledge and ideology. We ask for a strong wind of change that will block the opponents," he said.

Regional Minister Fred Gumo said time has come for ODM to engage political gear and hit the road for campaigns.

Gumo said the proponents of KKK have no agenda but are only keen to malign Raila’s name.

Ole Ntimama, dismissed the triple K alliance, saying it was made of ‘pretenders who have no agenda but are Railaphobic’.

"The Eldoret meeting was full of hypocrisy and cannot take Kenya anywhere. It was a big guff for the organisers of the meeting because they failed to discuss issues of IDP’s resettlement," he said.

Lands Minister James Orengo said, they were ready to go a political onslaught on ‘anti-reformists’. Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ said the current political realignment has been prompted by the fear of ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and KACC Director PLO Lumumba. Assistant Minister George Khaniri said it was penalty time and Raila has to shoot hard to score.