Thursday, November 24, 2011

Make or break for Raila party



By Standard Team
Over the next three days, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party must navigate a thorny, but pivotal moment in its history.
The elections scheduled to begin on Thursday will either cement ODM’s acknowledged perch as Kenya’s most popular party, or leave it wounded and limping into the General Election due next year.
There is controversy over the queue voting system as ODM elections start countrywide. Photo: File/ Standard
The party that carried the hopes of millions in the ill-fated 2007 elections wants to use its internal polls to settle pending housekeeping issues and strengthen its grassroots presence.
However, ODM also hopes to avoid a repeat of the chaotic scenes and falling out that beset a similar exercise five years ago, marred by violence in parts of Nyanza after supporters of rival candidates faced off.
And in some cases, there were even no elections to speak of after candidates invoked the name of the ODM party leader and forcefully claimed victory.
Among the constituencies worst hit by violence in 2007 ODM party elections were Karachuonyo, Ugenya, Rongo, and Rarieda.
This time round, although Raila has publicly stated that no candidate should invoke his name, and that anyone keen on holding ODM party positions must carry his or her own cross, party faithful will be hoping to turn a new leaf in politics with the elections.
Election of new officials will also strengthen Raila’s hand in trying to deal with the long-running internal rebellion by Rift Valley MPs led by William Ruto (Eldoret North).
The MPs have virtually decamped from ODM and declared they would contest the General Election under the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party, but have refused to resign their parliamentary seats.
Waiting quietly in the wings ready to gain from any falling out in ODM’s elections are a host of parties, including its coalition partner, Party of National Unity (PNU), and UDM.
Others that stand to benefit include Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM-Kenya, New Ford-Kenya, Ford-Kenya, Narc-Kenya, Sisi Kwa Sisi, Ford-People, and Shirikisho, among others.
Critical for ODM and the PM will be the conduct of internal elections in areas where the party has traditionally had strong support, including Coast, Nyanza, and Rift Valley provinces where the party still hopes to ride out the Ruto wave.
Elections in ODM begin from the grassroots to the locations before proceeding to the constituencies and counties.
Already, there is controversy over the system of voting and efforts by some members to derail the process.
Women have also called for fair elections and requested the party to protect them against intimidation.
The party will also have to ensure that at least a third of its new national office bearers are women, if it hopes to benefit from the Political Parties Fund.
On Wednesday evening, ODM headquarters said people it described as saboteurs were sending alarming text messages to members in Nairobi County, alleging that party grassroots elections had been postponed.
The ODM National Elections Board Secretary Dr Joseph Misoi said the claim was false and should be ignored.
"Grassroots elections are on as scheduled, starting tomorrow (Thursday), through to Sunday, November 27. The text messages are being sent by people whose intention is to derail the exercise," said Dr Misoi
In Mombasa, a meeting ODM National Elections Board chairman Philip Okundi convened failed to reconcile two political rivals over voting system in party elections.
The two groups, led by Changamwe MP, Ramadhan Kajembe, and Suleiman Shahbal on Wednesday failed to agree on the method.
One group claimed PNU moles had positioned themselves to seek elective posts to weaken the party, but offered no evidence to back the claim.
Mr Kajembe’s group wants queuing (mlolongo) as a voting system, but Mr Shahbal’s group insists on secret ballot.
Also backing mlolongo is Kisauni MP Hassan Joho who has declared his interest in becoming governor of Mombasa County in the General Election. He would square it out with Shahbhal, who is also interested in the seat
But on Wednesday evening, ODM leaders opposed to queue voting were planning to get a court injunction to stop party grassroots election in Mombasa.
But Mr Okundi said party constitution allows the members to choose the system they want on the polling day.
"The members have a democratic right to decide the system they want. That is why we have left it to members to decide tomorrow," said Okundi.
Likoni MP Masood Mwahima, supported mlolongo and challenged candidates opposing it to prove their point by participating.
Mr Mwahima is battling former MP Suleiman Shakombo for control of ODM affairs in Likoni.
Mwahima claimed the line-up of their opponents is composed of PNU moles planted to wreck the party. Mr Shakombo is said to be interested in Senate.
Women leaders have also warned against intimidation of women politicians seeking elective posts in the Orange Democratic Movement.
Led by former commissioner with the defunct Independent Boundaries Commission, Rosa Buyu, they said intimidation or violence against women in elective processes is criminal.
"We hope ODM elections will provide women with the opportunity to seek elective posts. We hope that there will be no intimidation and violence against them," she said.
Ms Buyu, who addressed women leaders from Kisumu County, challenged them to seek elective posts in the ODM and other political parties ahead of the General Election.
ODM Secretary General, Anyang’ Nyong’o, will face off with businessman JT Okinda, university lecturer and Raila advisor, Larry Gumbe, and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba for the position.
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