Monday, September 6, 2010

Raila steps in on ODM Makadara rivalry

By LUCAS BARASA (lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com)
Posted Monday, September 6 2010 at 16:34

The bitter rivalry in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) played out before Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday as he moved to stem divisions threatening the party’s performance in the coming Makadara by-election.

One supporter of a faction led by Nairobi deputy Mayor George Aladwa was injured as former MP Reuben Ndolo's backers forced their way into a meeting presided over by Mr Odinga at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The group accompanying Mr Ndolo brought down a door before entering the Amphitheatre.

Mr Odinga’s efforts to unite Mr Aladwa’s and Mr Ndolo’s camps however seemed to bear fruit when the two agreed to bury their differences and work together to ensure the party bagged the Makadara seat in the September 20 polls.

Mr Aladwa’s supporters had been unhappy with ODM’s headquarters move to give Mr Ndolo direct nomination while there were several other members interested in the seat. They further complained that they had been sidelined in party matters.

Waiting in the Wings

It however took Mr Odinga’s intervention and a plea by ODM’s executive director Janet Ongera, chairman Henry Kosgey, deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and assistant minister Elizabeth Ongoro to unite the two camps.

A split in ODM in 2007 elections that saw former footballer Dan Shikanda vying in a Narc ticket was also blamed for Mr Ndolo’s loss to Mr Dick Wathika whose election was recently nullified following an election petition.

Mr Shikanda has however since thrown his weight behind Mr Ndolo.

Mr Odinga explained that Mr Ndolo was given direct nomination because he is the one who filed petition against Mr Wathika and that he had waited for more than two and half years for its conclusion.

“After the conclusion of the petition some now want nominations after just waiting in the wings,” Mr Odinga said.

Mr Odinga said ODM supporters should look where the party was coming from - the struggles at Bomas Constitutional Conference, rejection of the Wako draft in 2005 referendum, the disputed 2007 elections and the recent referendum.

“Many people have died and others are still living with bullets,” Mr Odinga said.

He said even if one ODM player was bad, they should still wear same uniform and score at the right goal.

More Seats

Following the new constitution, he said, there will be more seats for ODM supporters to contest in Nairobi in the next elections, including governor, deputy governor, Senate, women representative and Speaker of the county.

He added that the city, which has only seen one constituency being added to it from the seven at independence, would also get a number of new ones to be created by the boundaries commission.

He added that devolution would also improve lives of Nairobi residents.
Mr Odinga implored upon ODM supporters in Makadara to respect him and the party by voting for Mr Ndolo.
Mr Ndolo also reached out to his opponents for support.

Mr Aladwa said if Mr Odinga “has said I should back Ndolo, whom am I to refuse.”

“I respect you (Mr Odinga) and that is why I am here. I will hold a joint rally with Ndolo this week,” Mr Aladwa said.

Responding to a query by Mr Mudavadi, which seat between Juja, Starehe and Makadara ODM was most likely to clinch, the participants shouted - Makadara.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Mr Kosgey said it was meant to rally supporters and voters behind Mr Ndolo.

“We as party leaders met and urged them to remain united so that they can deliver the seat to ODM,” Mr Kosgey said, adding that the meeting was called on Ndolo’s request.

ODM is set to roll out major campaigns in Makadara and Starehe this week. The two seats are crucial for both ODM and PNU strengths in the city.

ODM won in five of the eight Nairobi constituencies in 2007 polls but suffered a blow when in lost the Embakasi seat in a by-election following the death of Mugabe Were.

Campaigns in Makadara have been marked with incidents of violence but returning officer Florence Kwamboka said on Monday things had calmed down “and we pray that it continues this way.”
Other candidates vying for Makadara seat are Narc-Kenya’s Mike Mbuvi, Lindy Wafula (Nuru Party), Joshua Kitivi (ODM-Kenya), Stella Mbai (Ford-People) and Consolata Kivuti (United Democratic Party).

In Starehe, former assistant Minister Margaret Wanjiru of ODM would be battling it out with former minister Maina Kamanda of PNU who successfully filed a petition against her.

Others are John Kagimbi (Safina), Jackson Mwangi (Narc-K), Stephen Nyagah (Peoples Patriotic Party), John Opoth (Social Democratic Party) and David Wakahiu (National Patriotic Party.”

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