Why Balala is ditching Raila’s Orange party

By Philip Mwakio

Tourism minister Najib Balala, one of Prime minister Raila Odinga’s dependable allies in Orange Democratic Movement in 2007, is shopping for a new party.

The Mvita MP who stepped down for Raila in ODM’s presidential nominations, and who was one of the top guns dubbed ‘Pentagon’ claimed the Orange party is dictatorial and lacking in democracy — which is supposedly its middle name.

"We are tired of parables and empty rhetoric. Time for change is now,’’ said Balala who was flanked by Mvita Constituency Development Fund chairman Mr Ibrahim ‘Babangida’ Hamisi.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala salutes members of the public during the launch of Manyanga project at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa on Sunday. On his left is Mombasa politician Ambasa Kisiengo. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

His pending exit from a party that is already grappling with rising rivalry between Raila, its party leader and deputy Mr Musalia Mudavadi, is bound to attract attention from the PM’s critics especially given his reasons for abandoning ODM.

Within ODM it is believed Balala not only played a leading role in the formation of the party but also was instrumental in giving it the name borrowed from the symbol for the ‘No’ vote in the 2005 referendum, which the party fought and won.

Balala maintained during a public gathering at the scenic Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa that ODM lacked democracy and he would soon announce the new party on whose ticket he will seek the Mombasa Senator seat.

Political vehicle

Balala has kept many guessing over which political vehicle he will use in coming election but signs have been out there that he had fallen out with Raila. "Our new party is ready. We are going to unveil it soon," Balala promised his supporters.

The minister, though not associated with the G7 Alliance associated with Eldoret MP William Ruto, who himself fell out with Raila earlier and remains one of ODM deputy leaders just on paper, is one of the influential politicians from the Coast province.

His departure from Orange party leaves Mombasa County with three MPs elected on the party ticket to contest the next elections.

Changamwe MP and Assistant minister Mr Ramadhan Kajembe who has declared his interest in the Mombasa County Senator seat, will fight it out with Balala at the ballot box.

Others Mombasa County parliamentarians donning Orange colours are Kisauni MP Ali Hassan Joho and Likoni’s Mwalimu Masoud Mwahima.

Balala spoke during the unveiling of a minibus project for Mvita Constituency’s elderly people on Saturday. He urged Mudavadi to stop wasting time haggling over the ODM presidential flag bearer slot. "I urge my friend Mudavadi to stop wasting time in ODM. If he does not have a plan ‘B’, I am ready to show one to him," Balala said.

Mudavadi is embroiled in a nomination battle ahead of the ODM’s search for its presidential flag bearer and is set for a duel for the ticket with Raila, who a section of the party says, is entitled to automatic nomination owing to a clause in party’s constitution.

Initiatives

ODM has embarked on a series of initiatives to bring together the Raila and Mudavadi camps ahead of the general election in an attempt to avert a falling out.

It has also emerged that Mudavadi and his supporters are not considering moving out of ODM and are instead insisting the party polls be held at County level.

Mr Mudavadi has continued on whirlwind tour of the country meeting ODM delegates and floating his idea of challenging Raila for the party’s presidential post.

Balala urged Mombasa electors to vote wisely and ensure they pick leaders with a clean track record and those who champion development.

He, however, told the electorate he had no money "to bribe you to vote for me". He promised he would champion the development of Mombasa, where he served as Mayor before he joined Parliament. "You have all seen how Mombasa has been turned into a city full of billboards and dirt littering streets. This is as a result of poor leadership,’’ Balala said.

Hamisi questioned whether those erecting the advertising billboards were actually paying for the services or could the money be ending up in the pockets of a few individuals.

Balala reiterated his support for the election dates announced by Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, saying the March 2013 date will give political parties and all those aspiring for elective posts ample time to prepare. "I am ready to do battle with anyone seeking the Mombasa County Senator post. I will give my best to offer Mombasa electorate leadership as your servant,’’ Balala promised.

Village elders

The Coast Provincial Commissioner Mr Ernest Munyi commended the role played by village elders in society and urged others in the region to emulate the exemplary work by those from Mvita. "You started off with a Tuk Tuk (three-wheel motorised taxis) project which has now given birth to a manyanga (minibus),’’ Munyi said.