ODM factions clash as Siaya, Kakamega rallies loom

Rival ODM factions stage tense rallies in Siaya and Kakamega. [File, Standard] A showdown is looming today as the two ODM factions led by party leader Oburu Oginga and expelled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna hold parallel rallies in Siaya and in Kakamega as tensions between the two groups intensify. Yesterday, the region was a flurry of activities as both camps moved to mobilise their supporters to attend the two rallies amid several accusations of planned violence. In Kisumu, flickers of violence dominated the atmosphere as groups of goons gathered in various locations in an open mobilisation to disrupt the Kakamega rally. Police had to fire teargas canisters and shoot in the air to disperse a group of youths that were attempting to invade a hotel where Siaya Governor James Orengo and ODM Deputy Party leader Godfrey Osotsi were addressing journalists ahead of their meeting. The two leaders accused President William Ruto's government of sponsoring goons to interfere with the Kakamega Linda Wananchi rally. The leaders have said that if anything happens to any of the leaders who will attend tomorrow's rally, they will hold the government responsible for the attacks. They claimed that state machinery has been deployed to create chaos at the rally. Speaking to the press in Kisumu yesterday, Governor Orengo maintained that he will not be intimidated, stating that he was going by what is right for the people. He described their rally as a huge tsunami and unstoppable, stating that no forces will stop them. Orengo argued that they are not happy with what is happening and the surrender of the party to hostile forces. He maintained that they want the party to remain intact and united with its values. "The evidence is out there and it all over, that the state is sponsoring goons to interfere with our rally. We have actually seen where people are being mobilised to disrupt the rally. Already one of our tracks was attacked and the unfortunate thing is that all these things are being executed by senior people," said Orengo. Orengo argued that they are not happy with what is happening and the surrender of the party to hostile forces. The Governor maintained that they want the party to remain intact and united with its values. He argued that the President is under oath to protect life and property and so they will hold him responsible because his people are involved. He assured their supporters that the rally was on and some of the supporters had already arrived ready for tomorrow. "It is going to be bigger than any rally we have held before. We call upon the people of Kakamega and all surrounding counties to join us tomorrow. Kakamega is going to be a game changer, we will not back down," he said. Osotsi said the Linda Wananchi brigade should be allowed to hold their rallies without interference just like Linda ground brigade has been allowed to. "They did the same to us in Kakamega and Busia, but the people stood with us. I want to tell them that even in Kakamega our protection will be the people," he noted. The Linda Mwananchi tour, led by Edwin Sifuna, is set to take place tomorrow in Kakamega, the epicentre of the region's politics, and is set to upset the political status quo and cause a political paradigm shift amid political realignment across the country. This will be the third tour Sifuna and team will be holding after and before his removal as the ODM party spokesperson over alleged indisciplined conduct for opposing the party's move to initiate a pre-election pact with the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), ahead of the 2027 general election. In Kakamega, a group of youths and Boda boda operators speaking at Amalemba grounds have issued a strong warning against leaders plotting to disrupt the rally, vowing to deal with such leaders on the ballot come 2027. The locals opine that the abrupt rise of Sifuna's political rise is a political wake-up call for the region to redefine its space in the national space and local leadership towards the road to the presidency. "We are warning those planning to disrupt tomorrow's meeting that if they are politicians, then we will have a destiny with them at the ballot, and if they are police, we want to tell them to keep off the venue because we are law-abiding citizens and we will provide security by ourselves," said Tarrick Mfalme. He added "We want to tell President William Ruto that this is an ODM zone and we are going to support the son of the soil and this should sink into the minds of our Luhya leaders that this is our moment and we should support Sifuna because he only not carries the aspirations and vision of our community but the country at large and he has what it takes to be a President. " Mfalme asked the President to stop working with selfish local leaders to undermine emerging Luhya leaders. "Those supporting the President should do so, but they should not oppose the emerging leaders. We had the late Raila Odinga as our leader and the one who appears to be like him is Sifuna because he carries Baba's traits, a defender and champion of human rights, champion of democracy and rule of law," said Mfalme. Hillary Ateku urged police officers to refrain from lobbing teargas and disrupting the rally, stating that the place where the meeting is set to take place is a residential area. "This is a residential area where we have families and young children. We don't want the police to interfere with the meeting because we have enough to take care of ourselves," said Ateku. He said, "This is our time to reclaim our lost glory and stamp respect in Kenyan politics. We see a moment where we are going to unite to either form the government or be part of the team forming the next government because we have the numbers, and as youths, we are going to ensure our peers are registered as voters." Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa reiterated the importance of democracy, stating that any leader, including Sifuna, is free to hold a political rally in the county and across the country. "ODM is a democratic party and stands for democracy, and Senator Edwin Sifuna, like any other leader, is always welcome to Kakamega County. Our county is a democratic and inclusive space where all are free to engage the people peacefully and respectfully without insults," said Barasa. He added, "My political stand and allegiance is with my party leader Oburu Oginga, Linda Ground rally and Broad-based government, and that is where I stand, and therefore the Linda Mwananchi brigade is welcomed to Kakamega." Earlier this week Kakamega ODM MPs allied to Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya and Governor Barasa some who opposed the removal of Sifuna terming it political witch hunt and persecution of Luhya leaders but in a turn of events the group was summoned by President Ruto at statehouse for alleged development engagement in the region where several locals from Western region interpreted the visit to statehouse a betrayal and move to counter the Sifuna's Saturday rally. "We haven't seen or heard from the MPs speaking about their visit to the statehouse or to continue defending Sifuna, and we think they were summoned to suppress and counter Sifuna's growing influence ahead of his meeting, and this is betrayal. Let them state their position in this matter," said Hillary Mukhwana. The region is set to experience political fireworks as reports indicate that President Ruto is expected in Kakamega on Sunday in Matungu Constituency at Bulimbo Catholic Church for a Sunday church service. Meanwhile, yesterday, the Oburu-led faction was also running the clock to conclude their preparations for their meeting set to take place at Ahindi grounds in Siaya. The team met MCAs even as local leaders rallied residents to attend the meeting.

ODM factions clash as Siaya, Kakamega rallies loom

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