Photo/FILE Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) with deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi.
By Nation Team newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, April 13 2012 at 22:00
Posted Friday, April 13 2012 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- ODM leader claims his restless deputy is using threats to force a change in party election laws with the help of ‘external forces’
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday accused his deputy Musalia Mudavadi of intimidating and threatening the ODM leadership to change the party’s constitution.
“Amendment of a Party’s Constitution needs to be done in a sober, free and democratic manner. It should not be done under threats and intimidation. Intimidating people is itself, of course, the highest manifestation of dictatorship.
“Let Kenyans judge for themselves who is being high-handed and dictatorial in this matter,” said a hard-hitting statement signed by Mr Barrack Muluka, the director of communications at Mr Odinga’s campaign secretariat.
He was responding to protests from Mr Mudavadi that the PM and his supporters were frustrating efforts to change the constitution to make the nomination of the party’s presidential candidate competitive.
Later in the afternoon, Mr Odinga appeared to take a conciliatory approach, telling mourners in Kilifi that Mr Mudavadi was in ODM to stay.
“Mudavadi has not said he is leaving ODM. Mudavadi is our own and the game being played is inside the house. We are competing and if he defeats me I will support him and if I defeat him, he will support me,” the PM said.
Mr Odinga termed the competition between him and Mr Mudavadi as true reflection of democracy within the party.
“Multi party democracy calls for competition within parties and it is only ODM that has embraced it. There is competition and even Raila is being challenged. I have not objected to being opposed,” Mr Odinga said at the burial of Ms Sidi Maria Munga, the mother of Bahari MP Benedict Gunda in Chonyi division.
The PM said even in the run-up to the 2007 General Election, he was opposed by seven people for the party’s presidential ticket but when he emerged victorious, they set up the Pentagon and continued working together.
In his earlier statement, Mr Odinga had argued that whereas he agreed with Mr Mudavadi that the constitution should be amended to allow for credible presidential primaries, the changes could not be effected before the April 30 deadline for political parties to comply with the new law.
“The Registrar of Political Parties is supposed to cause a notice of intent to amend the constitution to be published in the Kenya Gazette within 14 days of receipt of the notice. Thereafter, a period of thirty days must lapse, during which the party shall receive proposals from the public. The amendment process will then proceed, as laid out in party instruments. Surely, those who initiated the amendment process that is now on going are not strangers to these legal requirements?”
The statement blamed the row on “external forces”.
“We are aware of external forces that have been at work since sometime last year, seeking to infiltrate and rock the party from within. These forces remain adamantly at work. We know about their recent activities and meetings in Nairobi and elsewhere. We would caution members of ODM not to fall victim to short-term attraction from these forces. ODM is the only party whose presidential ticket is being contested for democratically.”
At the same time, Trade minister and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula has denied claims that he was in talks with the PM to replace Mr Mudavadi.
“I categorically deny reports in the media that the Ford Kenya leader is any negotiations with ODM. I would like to assure the public that our party or party leader is not in any talks with ODM for any position,” said a statement by the Ford Kenya secretary-general Eseli Simiyu.
In Siaya, ODM acting treasurer Dalmas Otieno accused Mr Mudavadi of sabotaging the party instead of helping popularizing it.
He said Mr Mudavadi’s meetings with the ODM delegates were meant to galvanise the party’s support and not for him to clamour for presidency.
“We wanted to see what he was made out of. We wanted him to go out and get more support for ODM but we were shocked that instead of talking about the party, he started grumbling about the party’s nomination procedures,” Mr Otieno said at the burial Ms Mary Onyango, former vice-chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa said New Ford Kenya was not looking for a presidential candidate outside its ranks. He was referring to Wednesday night’s meeting of Mr Mudavadi and New Ford Kenya leaders Soita Shitanda and Dr Boni Khalwale.
Creation of the media
“At no time did I ever meet Mr Mudavadi and that’s a pure creation of the media. I have stated that I will contest for the presidency in the next elections.”
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba urged Mr Wamalwa to be more cautious on his political dealings.
“My brother Eugene, you risk being a flower girl in the wedding of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto and you will walk away with nothing at the end of the day so it is high time you stood out and be counted,” said Mr Namwamba.
He also asked Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua to decamp to the Orange party. ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o spoke of a “sustained and deliberate attempt” to misrepresent the party’s position on its nomination procedure.
“As ODM we know who our real enemies are, and they are outside the party,” Prof Nyong’o said.
He defended the submission of the party’s constitution to the registrar last Tuesday, saying it was sanctioned by the party’s National Executive Committee on April 4.
“The ODM held its National Executive Committee (NEC) on April 4, 2012, and after lengthy but fruitful deliberations, it was resolved that the party would prioritise its compliance with Section 51 (1) (a) of the Political Party’s Act. It was on this understanding that the Party submitted its application for registration to the Registrar of Political Parties on April 10,” Prof Nyong’o said.
Prof Nyong’o said Section 20 of Political Party’s Act requires parties to seek registration before amending their constitution or rules.
Notice of amendments
“This is so not only because the party must issue a notice of the proposed amendment(s), the substance of the proposed amendment must also be published in the daily newspapers for public consultations before the desired changes can be effected.”
The ten-point statement from Mr Odinga’s campaign secretariat said the party was not frustrating Mr Mudavadi’s presidential ambitions.
“We wish to put the record straight regarding the sponsored false perception that the Prime Minister was frustrating Mr Mudavadi’s presidential ambitions. The Prime Minister has been supportive of the thought that the party’s Constitution and election regulations can be varied, to make room for a broad based nomination exercise for the Presidential flagship.”
Elsewhere, Energy assistant minister Magerer Lang’at and Gwasi MP John Mbai have dared Mr Mudavadi to quit the party.
“During the creation of the party’s constitution, Mudavadi was part of the team that resolved that the party leader would be the automatic candidate for the presidency,” said Mr Magerer.
Set for poll victory
Mr Mbadi claimed there were many politicians who could ably replace Mr Mudavadi.
“Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s plane is already on the runway and not even the departure of Mudavadi cannot stop it from arriving at its destination,” Mr Mbadi said.
In Kakamega ODM youth leader Alex Khamasi said the move to submit the party old constitution to the registrar was a clear message to Mr Mudavadi that he was not wanted in ODM.
Political scientist Amukowa Anangwe challenged the PM and his deputy to focus on the party’s crusade to institutionalise democracy in the country.
“ODM leaders should remain focused to ensure the consolidation of reforms and democracy in Kenya because unless this is done we may have a worse post-election violence than the 20012 one,” Prof Anangwe said.
Stories by Julius Sigei, Mark Agutu, Dan Otieno, Timothy Kemei, Maurice Kaluoch and John Shilitsa
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