ODM to replace rebel councillors

By Mutinda Mwanzia, Titus Too and Beauttah Omanga

Signs are out Prime Minister Raila Odinga could have given up on reconciliation with Eldoret North MP William Ruto and has settled on walking into the

General Election without him.

On Sunday it emerged the Orange Democratic Movement leader has decided to revamp the so-called ‘Pentagon’, its highest decision-making organ credited with the mighty show ODM made in 2007, and at the same time abolish the position of deputy party leader, which Ruto holds.

On Tuesday it emerged Raila’s party has finalised replacement of 35 nominated civic leaders, reportedly allied to Ruto, with grassroots leaders deemed loyal to the party.

Those on Ruto’s side are perceived to have walked into United Democratic Movement (UDM) that the Eldoret North MP has indicated is his preferred election vehicle, next year. It is believed most of the civic leaders to be dismissed are from the Rift Valley, where Ruto is a key political figure. They are to be replaced with a group hand-picked to counter his influence at the grassroots.

The decision, sources said, is as good as done, and only awaits the decision of the Minister for LocalGovernment, Musalia Mudavadi, who is also Raila’s deputy in ODM. The target is said to be the North Rift where ODM is facing the stiffest rebellion from its former supporters.

ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o downplayed perception the purge is an anti-Ruto strategy.

He argued some of the replacements were for dead civic leaders. But he conceded there are also some nominated councillors who have to be replaced for violating ODM constitution.

"There are isolated cases of nominated councillors who have not supported the party and the ODM constitution is clear on what is supposed to happen. The consequences are clear," declared Nyong’o, whose party recently started but dropped plans to kick out two of its MPs.

The MPs Adan Duale and Isaac Ruto are seen to be working against the party that sponsored them to Parliament.

But Prof Nyong’o, who is also the Minister Medical Services, dismissed reports the party was targeting between 30 to 50 civic leaders because of ‘Ruto connection’ were outrageous and aimed at making the party look authoritarian.

Director of Communication in Local Government ministry, Kibisu Kabatesi confirmed to The Standard the minister had received the list of names to be degazetted.

"What I know is that the minister received a list of names that were marked for nomination and de-nomination from the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), but they are yet to be acted upon," said Kabatesi.

Sources said the minister received the names after the ODM Secretariat, with express instructions from PM, sent a list of 35 names for de-nomination alongside their replacements.

Criticism

Under the current arrangement, political parties decide names of those to represent them in the Local Government.

Though on paper, Ruto remains a member of ODM he has been on a national campaign tour to market

UDM and canvass for presidential ticket on an anti-Raila platform.

In the North Rift, only Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei remains the only high-profile politician still standing by Raila. ODM MPs from the region,

including party chairman Henry Kosgey, have changed positions.

The list of the civic leaders to be de-nominated was not immediately available, but it was evident their fate is now in Mudavadi’s hands.

Efforts to reach Ruto last evening failed but the move drew criticism from his supporters.

Last evening, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo supported the action arguing disloyalty to the party has its price.

"Absolute loyalty to the party is the duty of everyone who draws regular income through their association with the party," argued Gumbo.

But four ODM MPs allied to Ruto and UDM — Julius Kones, Adan Duale, Luka Kigen and Joshua Kuttuny — vowed they would challenge the move in court.

"We are all headed for the court tomorrow morning to block the move. What gauge did the party use to establish loyalty to the party before settling

on the 35?" asked Kones.

Kuttuny argued ODM had proved to be dictatorial by targeting civic leaders but termed the move a bigscore to Ruto’s camp.

"Why target civic leaders while fighting for the presidency? The party has lost its battle and is now resorting to poor civic leaders," he said.

Duale said a political party was bigger than personalities and wondered why those presumed to be Ruto’s supporters were being degazetted.

"The party is bigger than Raila Odinga and William Ruto. The councillors were nominated on the basis of their personal contribution to the party in the last General Election,’’ he said

Kigen said it was shocking that while other parties were recognising internal democracy, ODM was out to chase away those who dissent.

Dictatorial

But nominated MP Musa Sirma declined to comment saying he needed more time to establish why the move was taken and when it was decided.

"If they are not serving the interest of the party, it is the party’s right to decide on their nominations.

But I would rather not comment further until I establish details of the move,’’ Sirma said.

County chairmen and mayors in the North Rift challenged ODM to make good its threat to kick out MPs allied to Ruto. They said leaders in Rift

Valley campaigned for the party in 2007, but a few individuals are now "applying dictatorial policies". Leaders, including Wareng County Council chairman Paul Kiprop, his counterparts Simon Chepseba (Keiyo) and Kapsabet Mayor Michael Rono, said

the party had not called a National Delegates Conference to notify branches of its intentions.

"They can do what they want at the top. We campaigned tirelessly for the party lakini sasa wanatupiga teke (they are now kicking us out)," said

Kiprop. Speaking separately, Kiprop termed the move as ‘threats’ and vowed ‘they would be shocked because their move would not have any impact on Ruto’s supporters’.

Chepseba said residents of Rift Valley are major shareholders of ODM and they would not be forced out.

Rono said the ODM move was taking the country back to the "dark old days of dictatorship" where leaders were punished for not towing the line

of certain individuals.