from Odhiambo Washington
When you preach Democracy, it’s only right that you live by it. Looking at the goings-on in ODM, I am seeing a situation where Raila Odinga is going to be seen as a half-hearted democrat.
Facing the challenge from Mudavadi for the ODM ticket, Raila (and his fanatical backers) see this “democratic right” as external influence. Well, it could be, but isn’t it Mudavadi’s (or anyone else in ODM) democratic right to seek the ODM presidential ticket?
Raila believes in devolution? I doub’t it. I think maybe because of my simple mind. If he did, I’d have thought he’d agree to have the process conducted at the County level as opposed to the one of having delegates assemble in Nairobi. It’s cheaper to have the elections held at the County level, no?
Last evening, I heard him say that “ODM nomination rules will not be changed”. I did not know those rules are written on stone. However, I think I can see where he’s looking.
Let’s just say democracy, too, has it’s limits. Nothing is absolute.
—
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121/+254722743223
_ _ _ _ _ _
I can’t hear you — I’m using the scrambler.
Mr Odhiambo, ODM with Raila-Musalia gave us a true victory 2007 and that made them what they are today!!I hope like that we are still together home orange!If we are to change a team we must have a sounding reason to tell our own family as to why this have to happen.Nowhere arround the world a winning team can be replaced.Its in this context that Musalia got a wrong calculator by offering himself as another Alternative and that may land him in to the bottom o f the sea!
Politic has no school of thoughts!If it was advised from somebody he must one thinking with stomach!Yes there are a very big confusion in our political class because Our lords of impunity has cases to answer in ICC.They have captured the country a ramson our brothers are ba thing in alcohol our mothers are killing of father alife! The feelings of love is over STATE HOUSE,Uhuru and Ruto are going to hell with their kenyan part.Our nation is drunk the police are protecting Saitoti’s home for nyeri and muranga is burning under Kibaki’s watch .STOP STEALL OUR ORANGE HEAVEN SHALL BE ANNOYED AND LOOSE THE SKY OVER YOUR CHILDREN HEAD-OPADO
Washington, the issue of Musalia Mudavadi seeking ODM nomination as a presidential candidate is being blown out of proportion. You are right MM just like any other member is free to seek nomination and to offer alternative opinion. As a democrats, when an alternative opinion is offered, at the right forum, it is considered, deliberated upon and decisions made. However, when people are saying that the alternative opinion must be the one to be followed, we start to question democratic credentials of such people. The democratic way is to weigh the alternative opinion against other opinions or existing practices in the right ODM forum. How do we know that you are a genuine ODM member in this forum and most of these non-ODM fora where people pretend to know ODM more than ODM members. We are left wondering why non-ODM members are insisting that only MM’s opinion is the right one yet MM himself has not insisted so.
ODM NDC is composed of representatives from all counties and I have never understood where devolution gets lost in the NDC. My guess about the established practice of NDC doing the nominations is the issue of supervising the elections. It is easier and cheaper to ensure credible nominations under one roof. This is very critical where lines between different parties are not clearly marked. We have people like Ruto who are anti ODM and still claim to be party members. Who wants to give them the chance to participate in ODM primaries?
In the western, world friendly matches are never friendly until the march ends is when the players great each others so let mdavadi try his lack, of cause we should not relies only on one player, even if we have faith in one we have to know that in the playing field at one a player may have injury and a substitute has to be.
The writer- Mr. Washington is entitled to his views and same has to be respected by other readers. I however find a disconnect in his postulations – he is making a mighty mountain out of a molehill. Both Mudavadi and RAO belong ODM, aformidable party with well-knit structures and written rules governing its activities. Spelt out in the election rules is that a presidential candidate shall be elected by NDC. consequently, when a serious contender for presidency in the calibre of Mudavadi who believably is well versed with the party statutes start to demand for elections to be carried out within the counties then the party real supporters have reasons to suspect his move. I for one strongly believe Mudavadi is out to wreck the party , not because he is out to challenge RAO, but because he is in a wrong way pushing to alter the parties rules without the approval of the parties other organs. Iwonder whether meeting and stressing to the delegates that a presidential candidate must be elected at the counties is a forum to change the parties constitution. surely, something detrimental to the unity of ODM is goarding Mudavadi on. It wouldhave been prudent for him to lobby the necessary organs to change rules regarding elections providing for elections within the county then embark on looking for support from delegates. creating conditions is a surely way for a departure when the other side does not offer support. ODM being a train and not a bus as Kiraitu puts it has several capable individuals to enable it will elections. The issue ofRAO and his supporters not being democrats does not therefore hold any water.