Douglas Dindi @PeopleDailyKe
ODM party leader Raila Odinga skipped Ford-K leader Moses Wetang’ula’s presidential bid launch at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega on Saturday following alleged threats by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to quit the party.
He is said to have landed at the Kakamega Sports Club at 11.15am on Saturday but rather than proceeding to the adjacent Golf Hotel where a reception for guests hosted by his Cord co-principal Moses Wetang’ula was waiting, Raila held a meeting with county ODM executives before leaving.
Sources confirmed Raila held talks with Kakamega deputy governor Prof Philip Kutima and Butere MP Andrew Toboso who are ODM chairman and secretary respectively at the club, although details were unavailable.
Oparanya, who is one of ODM deputy party leaders, had been hesitant to allow the launch to proceed and it is believed the matter was discussed by the trio particularly on the ramifications the launch would likely have on the party’s support in the area should he attend.
ODM’s leadership, which has been critical of the launch is believed to have convinced Raila that attending the launch would give undue leverage to Ford-K and senator Boni Khalwale who plans to challenge Oparanya in the governor’s race in next year’s election.
Scores of pro-ODM supporters carrying placards in-scripted Butere and Khwisero ODM branches meanwhile chanted and danced outside the club’s gate as they waited to escort their party leader to the Muliro Gardens venue oblivious that Raila had been sneaked out of the town.
Wetang’ula’s entourage finally left Golf Hotel shortly after noon, but with Raila conspicuously missing, although supporters still expected he would join them later. They eventually discarded the Orange T-shirts and caps after an hour of endless waiting.
At the meeting, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and secretary general Omar Hassan who is also the senator for Mombasa emphasised the need for unity in Cord and explained why Raila was missing despite his prior repeated promises to attend the launch, but the crowd response was an ominous silence of disapproval.
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