Baraka Karama and Enock Amukhale @PeopleDailyKe
ODM leader Raila Odinga chose Vihiga, the stronghold of Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, to launch his week-long western Kenya tour in which he seeks to woo back the region where his falling support has been stoked by local rebel politicians. However, signs were evident of the hard task that awaits Raila even as he embarked on an offensive to quell rebellion against his ODM party, as groups of residents in Vihiga flashed placards written ‘Vihiga is an ANC zone’.
Crowds turned up to meet Raila as his convoy traversed the Kisumu-Kakamega road, but at Mbale, Mudavadi’s territory, residents waved the ANC placards, some with the message, ‘Baba Raila, support Mudavadi 2017’.
At Mudete area in Sabatia constituency, a group of Mudavadi supporters engaged in shouting and raising placards, leading to a scuffle with Raila’s security men who forced them out of the way for the convoy to proceed. But largely, Raila received warm reception in other areas from a region where key leaders have in the past few weeks ditched their ODM party positions.
It was the first time since the 2013 presidential election campaigns that Raila has gone to western fighting from a point of disadvantage, as opposed to the massive support he enjoyed previously. In his first address of the tour, Raila sent an olive branch to Mudavadi and other ODM rebel MPs from the region to rejoin his team and fight the 2017 polls together.
“I welcome my brother Mudavadi, Ababu (Namwamba) and all other leaders back home because they are my people and I know if we join hands we will win,” Raila pleaded. Areas Raila visited yesterday are strongholds of Mudavadi whose then party UDF won a senatorial seat, three parliamentary seats and all MCA seats in 2013.
Luanda MP Chris Omulele, Emuhaya’s Wilbur Otichilo and County Women’s Representative Dorcas Kedogo are the only ODM elected leaders in the county. Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya who is also the deputy party leader claimed he has initiated talks with Mudavadi on a possible merger ahead of the next elections.
Namwamba who recently resigned as ODM secretary general has already kicked off a campaign dubbed “Mulembe Consciousness” which he says is aimed at ensuring the Luhya community votes in one basket. Namwamba had earlier pointed out that Raila had ignored the Luhya community in several appointments during his reign as the Prime Minister.
But in a rejoinder Raila said, “In the coalition government I apportioned many positions of ministers, assistant ministers and other senior positions to people from Western province. Whoever is claiming that I ignored you is openly telling lies”. Shinyalu MP Anami Lisamula said ODM would block deputy president William Ruto from making inroads in western region ahead of the 2017 polls.
“We are ready to protect ODM in western region. We shall stop Ruto from making inroads here,” Anami said. Nominated Senator Agnes Zani who is the acting secretary general told those who have decamped from ODM to return, saying they are welcome back in the party. Zani said: “The party has sealed all the loopholes where the nominations were being carried out unfairly.
Other leaders who accompanied Raila were Vihiga Women’s Rep Dorcas Kedogo, Andrew Toboso (Butere) Peter Kaluma ( Homa Bay) Kakamega Women’s Representative Rachael Ameso, Fred Outa, ( Nyando) Shakil Shabir ( Kisumu East) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) among other leaders.
Raila also addressed rallies at Majengo, Chavakali, Hamisi, Shamakhoho and opened a new ODM office in Sabatia. The Cord leader will be in Luanda today where he is also expected to meet party delegates and later address a series of political rallies.
Meanwhile, Karachuonyo MP James Rege had told Raila to rethink his tour of Western region saying it is not a solution to the problem the party is experiencing. At the ODM Busia branch, there were reports that cracks were emerging among party officials ahead of Raila’s visit in the area. Additional reporting by Noven Owiti and Henry Andanje
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