From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
Martin from Nyamira writes: “Fr Beste what can you say about ODM elections chaos. Is it true that Raila Odinga had preferred line-up in the party elections and that is why there was chaos? Don’t you think this is spoiling Raila’s chance to win 2017 presidential election?
Thank you for asking the question Martin. Although some ODM members maintain that after Luo Nyanza MPs quit ODM elections race en-masse, details emerged on what has been described as Raila Odinga’s preferred line-up in the party elections, Raila has denied the claim.
What is very clear and cannot be denied is that some of the Luo Nyanza MPs have publicly complained that the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the defacto party leader coerced them out of the race in order to clear the way for certain candidates.
They argue that Raila is interested in ensuring those who take ODM leadership present a national and gender balanced face as he prepares for his fourth bid for presidency come 2017.
According to insiders, that is why the position of ODM party leader will automatically be retained by Raila and his deputy will be Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho in order to retain the coastal region in the party.
The preferred candidate for the party chairman according to claimed Raila’s list is that Funyula MP Paul Otuoma ostensibly to boost ODM in Western region. Other candidates are Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya and his Tigania East counterpart Mpuri Aburi.
It is also claimed that Raila prefers his long time ally and Homabay Senator Otieno Kajwang to take the position of party vice chairman and not Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and nominated senator Janet Ong’era who were also eying the position. They were forced to pull out when it emerged that Raila did not want them.
Nominated Senator Agnes Zani is touted to be Raila’s choice for the position of the Secretary General, the position the Luo Nyanza MPs were initially fighting to retain arguing that present holder, Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o should be replaced by someone from their region.
Raila is also said not to have been in favor of Elizabeth Ongoro, but instead would prefer Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba. Insiders say he did not also prefer Ken Obura and John Mbadi who have since pulled out in protest.
Raila is said to prefer Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire (Nyamira County) as the party’s treasurer while Kakamega Woman Representative Rachael Ameso as the preferred Deputy Treasurer.
Over the weekend, several leaders who attended the 20th anniversary of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga at his Kang’o home in Bondo dared the Luo Nyanza MPs to form a new party if they were not comfortable with ODM doctrines.
Raila is said to have not in favor of Dalmas Otieno for the ODM race for Secretary General. He quit the race and now he is close ally to President Uhuru Kenyatta, a move that may signal that Luo Nyanza may form a new party that could merge with Uhuru’s Jubilee’s coalition.
Since then Raila is slowly losing popularity in Luo Nyanza. Recently he was heckled for the first time in Kisumu where he had gone to quell tension that followed erection of an Indian Sculpture (Sikh Statute) in the town. He was forced to cut short his speech.
Your second question as to whether this preferred list may spoil for Raila to win 2017 presidential election, my take is that even if his preferred candidates would be elected for Raila to win 2017 presidential election is very slim.
This is given the fact that TNA completely outmaneuvered ODM in registering voters in their strongholds. Tyranny of numbers is still a force to Uhuru’s re-election. Many youth in Raila’s strongholds did not register for lack of national identification cards, despite the fact that Mr. Odinga controlled the ministry in charge of issuance of IDs through Otieno Kajwang’.
Money also matters. Uhuru Kenyatta is one of the wealthiest people in Africa (probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars). He is therefore able to pour money into his campaign once again without reserve.
Recent polls also showed that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA is the most popular political party beating Raila Odinga’s ODM to second place. Deputy President William Ruto’s URP comes in third according to a survey by Strategic PR firm released recently. Fifty four per cent of the respondents said they would vote for Mr Kenyatta.
A section of youthful Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs have also come out and boldly warning that Raila Odinga may lose the 2017 elections because he is surrounded by deceitful advisors.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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