Vote for Orange candidates only, Raila tells supporters in Western

CORD leader Raila Odinga (Center) Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Butere MP Andrew Toboso and other ODM leaders acknowledge greetings of Kakamega County ODM delegates at Nabongo cultural Center during Raila's last day tour in Western. [Photo:BENJAMIN SAKWA/Standard]

CORD leader Raila Odinga summed up his week-long tour of Western yesterday and appealed to voters to embrace “six-piece voting” next year.

Speaking in Mumias shortly after rowdy youths attempted to block his convoy, Raila   asked the party’s supporters to elect ODM ward representatives, MPs, Women Reps, senators, governors and president in one sweep, in what is commonly referred to a six-piece vote. Raila’s call is likely to elicit criticism from leaders of affiliate parties in CORD, which might feel that they are being locked out of Western.

CORD co-principal Moses Wetang’ula, who is also the Ford Kenya leader, has been working tirelessly to consolidate Western support in his basket. Wiper party, another affiliate, also won seats in 2013 elections.

In his appeal, Raila regretted that ODM managed to get only six parliamentary seats in Kakamega County out of the 12 constituencies.

The former Prime Minister attributed this to flawed nominations and affirmed that the mistake will not happen again.

The ODM leader said nominations will be carried out next year in February and gave an assurance that the process will be free and transparent.

“We will ensure that everyone is satisfied with the nominations. We will do as many nominations as possible in areas where complaints will be raised until we get an ultimate winner,” said Raila. “Some people left our party and won the election on other tickets and that is something we don’t want again,” he said. Raila’s last day in Western Kenya  was clouded by one incident where youths attempted to block the road he was using.

Police officers dispersed the youths who were planning to block Raila’s convoy at Shibale. The incident forced Raila to use another route to Shianda for a rally. This left disappointed supporters who had lined up on the road from Mayoni to Shibale to catch a glimpse of him.

Rowdy youth allegedly mobilised by a former ODM youth leader and some area MPs  blocked the Mumias–Bungoma road forcing Raila’s team to use a different route to access Mumias.

At around 11am, youths displaying  placards, blocked the road at Shibale trading centre. Party official Wafula Buke told journalists that the rowdy youth were hired by Jubilee allies to disrupt Raila’s meeting but were repulsed by the ODM youths.

For more than one hour, motorists were forced either to drive back to Kakamega and Bungoma because they feared getting caught up in the fracas. Mumias OCPD Farah Mohammed later accompanied Raila throughout his stopovers and as hundreds of police officers deployed from Mumias and Kakamega ensured there was no more trouble.

The former Prime Minister convoy was forced to use another route for the rally in Shianda market where he condemned the incident.

The rallies at Shianda and Bomani in Mumias town were conducted under the presence of security officers.

Raila denied that he owed Mumias Sugar Company money as claimed by his critics and said ODM was the party of choice in Kakamega. He urged his supporters to remain in the party and not to be swayed by Jubilee’s  attempts to divide them.

Later while addressing ODM delegates in Matungu, Raila asked party officials at the grassroots to enlist more party members.

“My message is that you should ensure you play the role of bringing at least ten new members into the party because we want to see our party strong and alive on the ground,” said Raila.

He insisted IEBC commission should not be allowed to supervise the next elections.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya assured the former premier that the Luhya community fully backed ODM.

He warned politicians against allowing themselves to be bribed to defect. Former Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati said Raila does not need to seek permission from Wetang’ula to tour the region.

He said Raila was the most popular candidate in Bungoma and the entire Western region.

George Aladwa, ODM Nairobi chair, said the party support a Raila candidacy for president.