ODM team plots way forward to elections

By Stephen Makabila and Beauttah Omanga
Discreet boardroom negotiations for next month’s ODM elections have kicked-off in earnest, as the contest in Ford-People’s election scheduled for this Thursday turned out to be a two-horse race.
Former Minister Henry Obwocha and South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya would be battling it out on Thursday for the control of Ford-People, the first party to hold elections this year.
In ODM, Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh chaired a closed-door meeting of officials from all the eight Nairobi constituencies at the Athi Water Boardroom on Saturday to plot the way forward.
The meeting came as ODM Election Board chairman, Philip Okundi, cautioned party MPs against waging propaganda war against their rivals and instead help to popularise the party in their constituencies.
Two representatives from each constituency in the city attended the Saturday meeting. The team came up with three resolutions, among them barring MPs and civic leaders from contesting for party positions in Nairobi branch.
　
IIEC FOR polls
The meeting also resolved that the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) handles the elections, and at the same time endorsed former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo to run for the chairmanship of the city branch.
"Yes, we have had a meeting, which has decided that MPs and councillors should not contest but be ex-officio members. We also decided that the IIEC conducts the election and that Ndolo be supported as the city branch chairman to help revitalise the party," said Ms Shebesh.
She went on: "Our theme ahead of the election is ‘Operation Clean-up Chama’. We do not want those who have evil agendas to ruin the party from within".
Some of the resolutions of the Nairobi meeting, such as keeping MPs and councillors from the contest and contracting the IIEC are, according to insiders, likely to be emulated by other 46 branches around the country ahead of the elections.
The March grassroots elections are expected to give way to the National Delegates Conference slated for April 8-9 at the Bomas of Kenya.
"I readily accepted the endorsement to vie for the chairmanship because I have the ability to keep ODM alive in the city," said Ndolo.
Makadara ODM Secretary Vincent Juma said the decision to back Ndolo was unanimous because he can be easily marketed and is acceptable to party members.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is the ODM Party leader, has quite a challenge, given a section of the party membership in Rift Valley want to quit.
It has emerged that MPs from the Kalenjin community allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto have finalised plans for their separation with the PM, following a series of secret meetings.
Expected to quit
Tinderet MP, Henry Kosgey, is expected to quit as ODM chairman, and Mr Ruto as Deputy Party leader.
Already, Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei has written to the PM asking to be released from her position as deputy leader of Government business in Parliament. Also giving up his post is Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat, the deputy organising secretary.
Roads Minister Franklin Bett, who is one of those close to Raila in the region, has cautioned Ruto allied MPs that they risk losing their seats if they ditched ODM.
The PM has the challenge of filling the void that is likely to be left by the Ruto group in the North-Rift.
In Coast Province, Tourism Minister Najib Balala is reported to be close to the Ruto camp, as is Assistant Minister Aden Dualle (North Eastern), one of the Vice-Chairmen of the party.
In Ford-People, the two contestants intensified campaigns in the last few days even as Nyamweya rejected the Returning Officer Samuel Mwencha, yesterday.
Delegates assemble at the Bomas of Kenya to elect a new chairman after outgoing office holder, Reuben Oyondi, who took over from former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae opted not to defend the seat.
The South Mugirango MP is being seen by those allied to Obwocha as too new to the party to be entrusted with the leadership while those for Nyamweya insist the party needs a new face to make it formidable and propel it to its heyday under Nyachae.
Nyamweya has demanded that Mwencha be immediately replaced, accusing him of having taken sides already by supporting Obwocha, an accusation Mwencha termed as unfounded.
Nyamweya, the only Ford-People MP from the larger Kisii has of late traded accusations with Obwocha, the party’s outgoing Secretary and former West Mugirango MP over the handling of the elections.
Was handpicked
Nyamweya has cried foul that Mwencha was handpicked by Obwocha to help him win the seat, but yesterday the former Minister accused his opponent of fearing defeat.
Nyamweya has said Obwocha should not even be cleared to contest on grounds that he had not paid the mandatory fee of Sh250,000.
Outgoing party treasurer, Mr John Muturi, also confirmed that by the close of the set deadline, Obwocha had not paid the fee.
"As at last Friday when I checked, it was only Nyamweya who had paid the fee. I called Obwocha and he promised to get back to me but he has not. We will meet him to know his position regarding the fee," said Muturi, who disclosed that he would not be defending his seat.
But speaking to The Standard from Kisii where he was busy campaigning, Obwocha said he had paid the fee. "I paid the fee and I am all set for election on Thursday," he said.
Concerning the rejection of the Returning Officer, Obwocha said it was wrong for Nyamweya to look for flimsy grounds to reject the outcome after sensing that majority of the delegates were not with him.
Turn around
"Nyamweya is a member of the NEC and he was there when Mwencha was nominated. How can he turn around and say he was not consulted. He should learn to be honest. Ford People has been a peaceful party all along and he should not bring tension and unnecessary wars," warned Obwocha.
But Nyamweya said just like other Ford-People members it was his right to have an acceptable procedure conducted by a non-partisan officer, preferably a religious leader.
"We must meet and urgently agree on a neutral person to handle the elections or still invite the IIEC to step in," added Nyamweya.
Obwocha, however, maintained time was not on their side to go looking for another body or person to conduct the elections and advised Nyamweya to get ready for the elections under the supervision of Mwencha.
"Nobody is plotting to rig the elections. Nyamweya should stop looking for excuses after realising that he has no numbers to enable him win the seat," Obwocha said.
Political limelight
The election of Nyamweya as South Mugirango MP in June last year, thrust Ford-People party back to political limelight after it had suffered humiliating defeat to ODM during the last General Election.
Nyamweya came to Parliament through a by-election occasioned by a court ruling following his petition arguing the election of former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara had not been free and fair.