Did CORD strategy focus on first round victory in polls?

By Stephen Makabila       

KENYA: CORD presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka had a well-oiled campaign machine in their State House bid.

But after the losing to the Uhuru Kenyatta led Jubilee Coalition, though contested by CORD, the emerging question is what went wrong for Raila?

There are those who feel nothing went wrong while others believe CORD was denied victory by irregularities that marred vote tallying.

However, some feel Raila would have been a much stronger candidate had he retained his two party deputies in ODM – William Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi.

CORD had anchored its bid on reform agenda and national healing, which was backed by some of the best political strategists and massive resources that saw the coalition visit all the corners of the country.

Three fronts

The campaigns were co-ordinated from three fronts – the office of  Raila’s   Chief Campaign manager and Head of the Presidential Secretariat headed by Mr Eliud Owalo, the CORD Executive Board that was originally chaired by Cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno and Assistant minister David Musila, and the CORD-OIL that brought together over 200 lobbies supporting Raila’s presidential bid.

From the time CORD was un-veiled at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, on December 22, last year, to the unveiling of its harmonised manifesto at the same venue on January 28, the leaders did not  conduct intensive campaigns like they did the last one month to the March 4 General Election.

After the launch of CORD’s joint, manifesto Kalonzo had made it clear that their vision was to ensure fundamental change anchored on national unity and justice.

“The other side represents the status quo, so deeply marred in internal strife unable to agree on anything except their distaste for those committed to reform,” he said.

Nominations

Campaigns spear-headed by Raila, Kalonzo and the third principal, Trade minister Moses Wetangula started in February after chaotic party nominations especially in Nyanza.

In a move to pacify Nyanza after the nominations, CORD unleashed a new campaign strategy in the region roping in church leaders, elders and respected opinion leaders to convince the voters to respect  Raila’s call for a six-piece voting pattern.

The coalition went to an extent of using Dholuo radio stations to call for support after it emerged that candidates who defected to other CORD–friendly parties were overshadowing ODM candidates in the campaigns.

In January, CORD launched a unit designed to add energy to the alliance’s presidential campaigns.

The team dubbed CORD Effect, had the brief to increase Raila’s chances of clinching the presidency by involving the youth.

CORD Effect that was chaired by Sports minister Ababu Namwamba used road shows, town hall meetings, and made appearances in talk shows to reach the people.

Mr Namwamba was assisted by Wiper’s Charles Kilonzo. Nairobi politician John Kiarie was the group’s secretary in charge of logistics.

Other members included Rosa Buyu, former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, Brian Weke who ran in Embakasi West, and all East African Legislative assembly CORD members.

And 23 days to the March 4 General Election, the coalition moved to once again reinvigorate its campaign machinery amid concerns  Raila’s  State House bid was being affected by lack of a countrywide grassroots presence.

Raila and Kalonzo then delegated the functions of the CORD Executive Board, co-chaired by Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno and Defence assistant minister David Musila to a Special Committee headed by Roads minister Franklin Bett and Agriculture assistant minister Gideon Ndambuki, with overall responsibility over the coalition’s campaign operations.

Summit

Mr Bett and Mr Ndambuki were to be assisted by Mr Christopher Mandumandu of Ford-Kenya.

The mandate of the special committee was to formulate and propose policies to the CORD Presidential Summit and oversee the operations of the various political units belonging to the coalition and its member parties.

“It will also harmonise and streamline, in the final run-up to Election Day, the initiatives of the various CORD campaign entities working to promote the presidential ticket and other coalition candidates,” Raila media aide Salim Lone was quoted saying.

 Just like other competitors, the bulk of CORD’s finances went into travel, operations, events, media adverts and merchandise. The coalition has four helicopters and two fixed wing aeroplanes.

The cost of hiring a chopper ranges from $1,500 (Sh130,500) to $2,000 (Sh174,000) per hour, depending on the organisation.

As election drew near, CORD increased the number of rallies per day, with each of the three principals addressing several mini-rallies before all assemble for one major rally.

First round

CORD held its final submission rally at Nyayo National Stadium on March 2, with a call to supporters to turn out in large numbers to vote for the coalition.

 Raila urged supporters to ‘finish the game’ in the first round.   Kalonzo and Wetangula had equally also exuded confidence that CORD would emerge the victor in the Monday poll.

 “It’s time we end dictatorship, impunity, land grabbing and other vices in this country. We can change all these evils by voting wisely on Monday,” said Raila.

 Kalonzo assured that CORD government will ensure that the Constitution is implemented to the letter and the necessary reforms carried out in all the sectors.