Raila revs up Western tour as split in his lobby widens

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) with Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa at a public rally in Muliro Garden, Webuye on October 18, 2012.   PMPS

By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Thursday, October 18  2012 at  22:30

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga began his tour of Western Province by holding various meetings in Bungoma in a move aimed at consolidating support for his presidential bid following the defection of his key allies in the region.

Mr Odinga maintained that his party was still the strongest in the country and urged all those who had decamped to return.

He said the next elections would be a battle between his ODM party and PNU “which has now transformed itself to TNA.”

“We will train youth and ensure they are given capital to begin income generating activities,” he also promised residents.

The defection of Mr Sambu, who was ODM vice-chairman in charge of Western Province, has dealt a big blow to the Orange party.

In Bungoma only Internal Security assistant minister Alfred Khang’ati remains loyal to Mr Odinga.

Meanwhile, a major split has emerged in Mr Odinga’s main campaign lobby after his brother’s son set up a splinter group.

Mr Jaoko Oburu said he had formed Friends of Raila (FORA) Trust to champion Mr Odinga’s presidential campaigns and dismissed Friends of Raila 2012 as a business entity.

Mr Jaoko is the son of Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga.

He spoke moments after Mr Micah Kigen, who heads the original FORA, published a disclaimer on the activities of the group led by Mr Jaoko.

“I am shocked by a funny advertisement by Mr Kigen which was largely meant to undermine FORA Trust’s activities,” Mr Jaoko said.