Officials trade barbs over botched party rally

Division have emerged at the Migori County ODM branch over a botched rally party leader Raila Odnga was to attend in Awendo Township last week.

Some officials now want disciplinary action taken against the branch leadership, saying they are a letdown to the party.

The rally, which was to be held at Sony stadium, was called off at the last minute following chaos at the venue. Local police also cited security lapses, saying they had not been involved in organising the event.

Blame games between aspirants and officials have ensued over the aborted meeting.

Aspirants Oluoch Nyamola (Senate), George Maando (Awendo parliamentary seat) and County party Secretary Josiah Olala blamed brach chairman Philip Makabong'o for causing divisions within the party's branch by playing partisan politics in favour of gubernatorial aspirant Ochillo Ayacko Owino and parliamentary candidate Walter Owino.

Top party officials flew to the venue only for the meeting to be called off at the last minute. At Awendo Stadium, Raila was ushered into two small tents which had only less than 50 seats without a public address system and without a podium area where he could stand to address people.

A surging crowd of followers made it impossible for the leader to make the address, which Rongo OCPD Kisaka Muganda cited as a serious security risk.

Muganda also said police were not involved in planning of the meetings.

Party sympathizers now want current leadership disbanded and Uriri MP John Kobado to continue serving as the county party chairman until alternative party leadership is sought.

However, Makabong’o defended himself saying he was acting within the party's manifesto while Ochillo and Owino could not be reached for comment since calls to their mobile phones went unanswered.

"If anyone is not satisfied with the way I am running the party, he should petition the party but not engage in unconstructive politicking," said Mr Makabong'o.