NASA's internal rivalry may be Raila’s waterloo in quest for Presidency

Like a house of cards, the Opposition’s quest for the presidency is being choked within NASA as affiliated parties intensify rivalry for smaller seats, which has left Raila Odinga’s campaign exposed.

It is now evident that while the principals are battling to hold a happy face as a united Opposition, the rivalry pitting Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya in Western region, and ODM and Wiper in Coast could cost Raila victory against President Uhuru Kenyatta on August 8.

Ordinarily, the five affiliated parties (including Chama cha Mashinani of Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto) are supposed to only compete for the local seats and drum up support for Raila Odinga. However, on the ground, it is not as simple as put. The fierce rivalry for the smaller seats means the candidates are championing for their own causes and leaving out the presidency.

Many a time, Kenyans have been treated to the theatrics of Raila complaining how his votes were stolen, yet when in his own stronghold, the people are focused on fighting for their own small seats and not for the presidency. It is possible to have some people only voting for the President alone and not the other five seats.

The rivalry between Ford Kenya and ODM has seen Bungoma lobby groups formerly allied to NASA shift their allegiance to Jubilee Party. They have accused Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Alfred Khang'ati (vying for Bungoma governor seat on an ODM ticket) of undermining NASA co-principal and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula.

The Bungoma Residents Forum has since embarked on campaigns in support of Uhuru's re-election. The group, which had campaigned for NASA for five months, accused Raila of using Oparanya to undermine Wetang'ula and Mudavadi. That does not look like a machine working together and places Raila’s quest for the presidency in jeopardy.

Back in June, this rivalry escalated before Raila’s eyes when he took his campaign to Bungoma. It took time for the Opposition chief to calm the crowd down, calling on the two rival camps to get their act together lest they lose the seat to Jubilee.