ODM troubles pile as Raila faces tough task keeping allies united

Party insiders say while there may be a lot on the party's plate, they have formidable strategy to address issues affecting it, including waning grassroots support.

At the party headquarters, chairman John Mbadi has declared his intention to resign from his powerful position, providing Raila with a headache on replacement. In Nyanza, sibling rivalries that dominated the party's campaigns in last year's polls are slowly returning.

Some key members of the party who have been instrumental in maintaining its strength across the country, including deputy party leader and former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, have been a no-show. Other key allies of the ODM leader like former Kisii Governor James Ongwae have since left the outfit.

The situation has been complicated by President William Ruto's raid on Raila's political pocket by luring some of his (Raila's) foot-soldiers to his fold while also stepping up his efforts to win over the Nyanza and Coast electorate.

Interviews with a number of party insiders show there is concern the current woes could affect the party's dominance and is among issues the ODM leader will be seeking to address when he visits Kisumu at the weekend. Last weekend, the ODM leader took his Azimio rallies to Busia County. In Busia, Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have stepped up efforts to wrestle the region from ODM's grasp.

Strong party

"There are a number of issues that have not been resolved in the party including plans by the chairman to resign. We trust that our party leader will sort them out and that ODM remains a strong party," said an MP.

Among the issues causing friction in the party is the treatment of seven MPs who visited State House recently. The party has initiated disciplinary proceedings against them but some officials feel they should be pardoned.

Yesterday, a senior party official who asked not to be named claimed they were hoping the MPs would only be fined and removed from key committees in the National Assembly.

But if disciplinary actions that local ODM officials have started to enforce against the MPs are nything to go by as well as the comments made by Raila in Kisumu at the weekend, the MPs fate is already sealed.

On Monday, the party's branch officials in Bondo suspended MP Gideon Ochanda from his position as the secretary. Further, the delegates led by the branch chairman Oburu Oginga, announced that they will write to ODM headquarters to take action against Ochanda for allegedly breaching the party rules.

The MP, who is serving his third term in Parliament, is among the nine ODM lawmakers who met Ruto last week. Others were Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri) as well as Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

The State House meeting has elicited mixed reactions, with some party members accusing the MPs of betrayal while others defending the group.

In Kisumu, local ODM officials have also started the process of punishing Ojienda over the visit while Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has also petitioned the party to expel them from the party. But the problem is just a tip of the iceberg.

There have been disagreements about how the party's affairs should be managed in future, following Raila's loss in last year's election. Some members want party officials accused of botching Raila's campaigns to be removed from key party positions.

"There are leaders we do not trust with the running of party affairs. They bungled nominations and the election and are among those courting the new regime," said an ODM MP.

The MP said some of the leaders who failed the party have also stayed away from rallies organised by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.

"When Ruto came to Nyanza, some of our members were the first to line up and meet him but have been ignoring all the activities organised by the party and its coalition partners. We cannot accept that," said the MP.

Last week, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga dared Mbadi to quit. Ms Wanga said Mbadi should resign honorably, saying he had done little to strengthen the party.

"He should have resigned as early as yesterday," she said. "After all, the party has had less achievements since he became the chairman," Wanga added. on Tuesday, Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi told The Standard that the party is working on plans to revamp itself.

"ODM is a resilient movement that has withstood the test of time. Differences in opinion do not necessarily imply that there are cracks in the party," said Wandayi. He believes the disagreements are a sign that the party has embraced internal democracy. "To the contrary, they are a sign of internal democracy within the movement. We intend to continue strengthening the party by recruiting new members in both our strongholds and new frontiers," said Wandayi. Suna West MP Peter Masara said: "At times people differ on opinion but that does not mean there is a problem."

According to Viscount Owuor, a political analyst, events in ODM are a result of mixed signals the party sent in regards to the new administration. "It springs from the mixed signals the party has been sending regarding the legitimacy of President William Ruto's administration," said Owuor.

[Harold Odhiambo, Anne Atieno and Olivia Odhiambo]