Tuesday, January 8, 2013

ODM ministers mild as Rift goes URP


By Edwin Cheserek and Vitalis Kimutai
Prime Minister and Cord Presidential candidate Raila Odinga is under pressure to shuffle his campaign team in the Rift Valley amid claims that some of his close allies were only giving him lip service.
Those pushing him to review his strategy in the region are pointing accusing fingers at senior ODM ministers, whom they claim have bowed to the United Republican Party (URP)  wave sweeping across the region expected to provide swing votes  in the March 4 elections.
The ODM is part of the Cord coalition that also brings together Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Party and Trade Minister Moses Wetangula’s Ford-Kenya.
It is expected that Cord’s new poll strategy announced on Thursday would address some of the issues raised by the Rift Valley leaders.
The URP, led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto is  a partner in the Jubilee alliance whose Presidential candidate, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is Raila’s main challenger in the polls.
Raila’s popularity in the Rift Valley has been waning ever since he fell out with Ruto.
Though recent opinions polls show that Raila is the preferred candidate with ODM being the most popular party, his handlers are concerned URP’s forceful campaign might leave him empty handed.
Questions are now being raised on whether ODM leaders in the region are committed to boosting the PM’s support.
Disillusioned
This is because ODM ministers in the region have influential capacity to carry out campaigns for the premier but appear not interested or fear the URP wave in the region.
Raila has been relying on ministers Sally Kosgey, Henry Kosgey, who is also ODM chairman, Musa Sirma, Franklin Bett, Prof Margaret Kamar and assistant Minister Margerer Langat to help him woo the Kalenjin voters.
The Friends of Raila (FORA) lobby Chairman, Micah Kigen, is among those unhappy with ODM ministers in the Rift Valley, accusing them of doing little to drum up support for the PM.
“Some of us have limited capacity but we are burning the midnight oil trying to shore up support for the PM in the region. They (ministers and MPs) should explain why this is so,” he said.
Kigen said majority of ODM supporters in the Rift Valley were a disillusioned lot as they constantly lack political direction, leaving other parties to win them over.
“We have lost a lot of ground just because there is no one who frequents the region to discuss ODM affairs. These ministers and MPs only wait when the PM is visiting the region to make appearances,” he said.
However, Raila’s allies told The County Weekly that the PM has changed tact and unveiled a strategy of reaching out to the people directly instead of using proxies.
 “Raila has decided to meet with the people himself and sell the coalition’s policies with a view of securing substantial numbers,” said Jackson Kibor, an ODM elder. Kibor,  a key PM’s crusader, disclosed that the coalition would embark on aggressive campaigns in the remaining two months to the elections.
Tell Ruto
He said Cord is planning a series of campaigns in Ruto’s home turf where they would conduct closed-door meeting with elders.
 “The meeting will be specifically for Raila and the grass roots leaders before the PM addresses the residents later in the day,” he said.
Sources privy to the developments in Cord said Raila was working on new strategies to win back the Kalenjin voters.
 “He (Raila) has not given up on the Kalenjin. He knows well he is its preferred leader and we are optimistic we have enough votes here,” said Mr Kibor.
 “Tell Ruto and his team we are ready for the battle to the bitter end. We are confident that Raila will have the last laugh come March,” said Kibor.
He said the community would be more comfortable with a Raila presidency than Uhuru.
 Kibor said elders are set to convene a meeting where they would enlist the help of an independent professional to advice the community’ on their political direction.
Political analyst Paul Chirchir said a number of MPs are fighting for political survival and do not have time to campaign for the party.
He says the argument that sub-tribes such as the Marakwet and Keiyo feel sidelined is strengthening Jubilee politically.
“Raila has been concentrating on Nandi and Kipsigis sub-tribes neglecting the minority communities, a strategy that will work against the party,” Chirchir said.
But Marakwet ODM chairman Samuel Chemweno says the party has not lost ground in the region. He says things have changed ever since the launch of the ODM Mashinani.
Roads Minister Franklin Bett’s recent decision not to contest any elective post in the next general election is said to be partly because of the fact that the South Rift region is now predominantly URP.
Bett admitted in an interview that it would be possible that in the next general election, all MPs from the Kalenjin Rift Valley would be from URP but it does not mean that Jubilee Coalition will form the government.
Sack old guard
Observers say  people expect Mr Kosgey to wield a lot of influence in the region with his clout as the ODM national chairman and senior cabinet minister.
Energy Assistant minister Langat Magerer shares FORA’s view saying that the ministers are not adding any value to the PM’s campaigns ahead of the next general election which is set to be held in the next two months.
Magerer said the PM should reorganize his cabinet, sack the old guard and bring on board youthful MPs so as to re-energize gets the Presidency.
Magerer said, “The general feeling out there is that the PM needs to shake off the old guard and assemble a new team of youthful leaders to steer his campaigns.
Political analyst Korwa Adar says the ministers should reciprocate their appointments by strongly campaigning for Raila.
Dr Adams Oloo, a political analyst and lecturer at University of
Nairobi said some of the ministers did not command support from their own backyards.
“In the Western region for example, we have Cabinet ministers Paul Otuoma and Wycliffe Oparanya but it was Ababu Namwamba, even before being appointed as Sports minister two months ago, that made a lot of sense to the people with the issues he was tackling thus eclipsing the ministers,” Oloo said.
He added:  “In Rift Valley, Sally Kosgei, who is holding the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to have a lot of clout but because of her nature, she comes out more as a civil servant than a politician.”

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