Raila creates new think tank to spearhead campaigns

Bishop Zephaniah Okore prays for NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga at St Stephens ACK Cathedral Church in Kisumu. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/Standard]

National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga has created a new campaign machinery that incorporates top academicians, anti-corruption crusaders and influential civil society players.

Insiders say as he sets off on his fourth presidential bid, Raila is keen not to repeat the mistakes that undermined his candidature and to project a new  “unstoppable brand Raila” capable of beating President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The new think tank is tasked with rectifying the mistakes made in the 2013 presidential polls, including making inroads into Jubilee strongholds and securing votes cast at the polling stations.

Technical team

The team comprises controversial economist and columnist David Ndii, who heads the NASA technical team, anti-corruption campaigner and former Agriculture Permanent Secretary Tirop Kosgey, and former commissioner with the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and East African Legislative Assembly member Abubakar Zein.

Others are human rights crusader and International Commission of Jurists Executive Director George Kegoro, University of Nairobi Political Science don Adams Oloo, Kabarak University’s Faculty of Law Dean Elisha Ongoya, Willis Otieno, a lawyer, and former Mumias Sugar Company chairman Dan Ameyo.

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama is another player who has gained access to the inner sanctum of Raila’s power network and is now an assistant to Musalia Mudavadi, who is the chairman of NASA’s National Campaign Committee (Nacaco).

Mr Muthama’s clout grew tremendously when he delivered his party boss, Kalonzo Musyoka and his Wiper Party, to team up with Raila to form the now defunct Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in the run-up to the 2013 polls.

Mudavadi will head a team of 10 personalities seconded by the NASA partner parties to oversee a massive structure that runs through and is replicated in 47 County Campaign Co-ordinating Committees (CCCCs), 290 constituencies, 1,450 wards and 40,000 polling stations. Mudavadi’s role is in line with the NASA power-sharing formula in which he will head the Government as Premier Cabinet Secretary.

Kalonzo is also expected to second political strategists to the NASA Presidential Campaign Secretariat. Although no name has been floated, insiders believe two are from Europe and one is Kenyan.

“Kalonzo is very secretive but he has political advisors from Europe who he is considering to second to Raila’s think tank. But as to who, I can’t tell,” said a source.

Mudavadi is said to have proposed Mutakha Kangu among other university dons who have been working behind the scenes.

International image

The new advisory team is also expected to re-energise Raila’s campaign and boost his international image.

Modelled on the American Democratic Party National Committee, Mudavadi will preside over high-level research and strategy, communications, resource mobilisation, operations and logistics, and is supported by a 24-hour presidential secretariat.

“I have graciously accepted this pivotal role because I believe a win for NASA is a win for Kenyans. We have little time for sideshows so we are going flat out for the Jubilee jugular,” said Mudavadi as he broke the news of his new role.

Party insiders believe the new advisory team, which has been meeting at undisclosed places, will create an “unstoppable brand Raila”.

A highly-placed NASA source revealed Raila had sought the services of former Special Projects Permanent Secretary Andrew Mondoh as an advisor on administrative matters, and lawyer Norman Magaya, CEO of the NASA secretariat.

In the last two elections, Raila relied on his policy think tank that included Edward Oyugi, Peter Wanyande, devolution expert Mutakha Kangu, Coast tycoon Mohamed Jaffer, Caroli Omondi, the then Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, and veteran journalist Sarah Elderkin.

Related Topics

nasa raila odinga