ODM-Kenya to open county offices

ODM-Kenya has embarked on a strategy to open up party branch offices in all 47 counties across the country and simultaneously popularize the party into a formidable mass movement Vice president Kalonzo Musyoka has said.

The announcement was made Thursday by VP who is also the ODM-K party leader during the closing session of the party's two- day Women Democrats workshop held at the Lenana Conference House, Valley Arcade in Nairobi.

Mr. Musyoka said Kenyan women stands to benefit more in the new constitution as more opportunities for them had been guaranteed.

He urged participants to take active role in popularizing the party back at the grassroots, saying an ambitious programme is in place to have representation from every part of the country with offices in all 290 constituencies.

Mr. Musyoka told members that ODM-K will actively play its part in the Grand Coalition arrangement, noting that even before the past general elections and the formation of the coalition the party had resolved to form a coalition with winning party.

He stressed the importance of strong political parties in the formation of strong democratic governments.
In a communiqué read by nominated MP, Shakila Abdalla, participant at the workshop resolve to strengthen the party at the grassroots level and ensure proper representation from every county.

Resolved to take active role in the implementation of the new constitution, as well as ensure participation in all elective positions.

They stressed the need to uphold teamwork amongst women leaders and create structures that would strengthen their participation in politics.

Meanwhile, pressure has continued to mount for the Party of National Unity (PNU) top brass to resign and pave way for fresh blood in party leadership following the Party's disastrous performance in Monday's by-elections in which PNU lost the Juja and Makadara seats to Narc-Kenya.

East African Cooperation Assistant Minister Peter Munya on Wednesday said it was the practice worldwide especially in western democracies for leaders of governing parties that lose in elections to step down to allow the party to restructure in readiness for recapturing power and cited the recent experiences of the Labour and Conservative parties in Britain.

The assistant minister who is also the Tigania East MP said he fully backed calls by those who want to revamp the PNU leadership to reverse its waning political fortunes in the country's politics.

Other party bigwigs who have called for a reshuffle in the PNU leadership include Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa and nominated MP George Nyamweya and PNU spokesman Moses Kuria.