Posted Saturday, September 25 2010 at 22:00
In Summary
Orange party ponders the future midway into the deal with PNU to form grand coalition.
There has been criticism of the way the secretariat has handled parliamentary elections, with its strategy of direct nominations backfiring badly
Prime Minister Raila Odinga plans to make changes in the top leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement following the party’s mixed performance in the recent by-elections and in a bid to consolidate his lead in opinion polls.
Mr Odinga plans to convene a national governing council meeting where, sources said, the performance of the secretariat is likely to come up.
The party is facing harsh reality after spirited attempts to capture the Matuga seat from PNU’s Chirau Ali Mwakwere and to prop up fallen candidate Ibrahim Ochoi in South Mugirango and to secure victory for Reuben Ndolo in Makadara all came a cropper.
Matters have not been helped by the political gulf that exists between the PM and Higher Education minister William Ruto.
It is understood that the officials whose positions are likely to come under scrutiny are party secretary-general Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and executive director Janet Ong’era.
Already, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba is being touted in ODM circles as a possible replacement for Prof Nyong’o while some party officials are seeking a replacement for Ms Ong’era, possibly from North Eastern Province.
A source close to the Prime Minister, who declined to be named discussing internal party affairs, said Mr Odinga wanted the governing council meeting convened before the end of the first week of October.
Contacted on Saturday, the PM’s spokesman Dennis Onyango was diplomatic in his confirmation of the plans.
“The PM feels it is mid-term and time for the party to convene and look critically at the two-and-a-half years in government and its relationship with the masses. He is not calling for or opposing reorganisation of leadership. He wants the organs of the party to deliberate and make a decision after reviewing performance and reviewing the shape of national politics with the coming of the new Constitution,” Mr Onyango told the Sunday Nation.
Opinion polls show that Mr Odinga enjoys a comfortable lead in the race for president. But there has been criticism of the way the secretariat has handled parliamentary elections, with its strategy of handing direct nominations to candidates backfiring badly on several occasions.
On Monday the party’s candidate in the Makadara by-election was surprisingly beaten by a new contender, Gidion Mbuvi, popularly known as Mike ‘‘Sonko’’.
Mr Mbuvi had initially sought the ODM ticket, but the secretariat opted to give a direct nomination to Mr Ndolo.
Fisheries minister Amason Kingi said the party must change its approach and abandon the policy of handing out direct nominations.
“The bottom line is that we must adhere to party rules and regulations. If we had stuck to our rules and held primaries, we would have fared much better in the by-elections. The rain started beating on us when four or five people decided they can sit in an office somewhere and decide which candidate is likely to perform well,” he said.
Despite the mounting criticism, party officials offered a robust defence of their record.
Asked whether her position would be reviewed at the planned meeting, Ms Ong’era said: “There is nothing like that. The governing council should meet at least once a year to discuss party issues.”
Ms Ong’era said those seeking to change the party’s leadership had an ulterior motive.
“We have made this party. Those who are saying things like that are people from PNU or PNU sympathisers. They have a malicious agenda. Nobody has called such a meeting, and there is no need for it. Anybody who wants to remove us from office should wait for their turn. This is our time, and we are in office until 2012,” she said.
Prof Nyong’o said Mr Ndolo would have won the Makadara seat if the by-election had been held on a weekend, but the weekday date meant that his supporters in Kaloleni, Jericho and Jerusalem were away working in Industrial Area.
“Supporters of ‘‘Sonko’’ are self-employed people such as hawkers and touts, and they were available on that day,” he said.
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