ODM PLEADS WITH KENYA’S NATIONAL SECURITY INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF A SLANDEROUS DOCUMENT IN CIRCULATION AND FIND ITS AUTHORS.
News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
THE Orange Democratic Movement {ODM}, which is one of the principal partners in the ruling coalition government has written to the country’s national security intelligence services, requesting it to investigate the source and authors of a malicious document currently in circulation in Nairobi and elsewhere .
The document, authored by unknown people, purporting it to have been written by the ODM party strategists “Think Tank”, claims among other things, that the ODM intends to force fresh elections by February next year.
It is addressed to “The Command Team”, and calls on the Prime Minister Raila Odinga to quit his position and be a candidate for the intended elections, with the campaign to start immediately.
“Captain has to switch from being PM to being a candidate. Elections must be held between December 2010 and February 2011.
“Executive Prime Minister to run the government, while Hon Orengo is to ensure our people at CoE have appropriate clauses in the Draft Constitution”, read the letter in part.
Written in crude English, the letter further outlines strategies for ODM to employ new tactics to capture votes from various regions of the country as well as how it would raise campaign funds.
Political pundits were quick in dismissing the letter as the work of disgruntled youths bent on scavenging on election campaign resources, which usually dries up soon after the elections, leaving them unemployed and with no dependable source of income.
But the ODM’s Secretary-General, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o sharply reacted, and wants the National Security Intelligence Services to investigate the source and authors of the document.
Prof. Nyong’o, who is also the Minister for Medical Services, while addressing newsmen at the Orange House, ODM headquarters, blamed the coalition partner PNU for the document, saying from its contents it can only serve the interest of the PNU and its sympathizers.
The Minister went on to state that such documents are meant to create political despondency and instability, and regretted that their authors are yet to learn from the tragic lessons and experience of Kenyans, following the disputed presidential elections results of 2007.
“As a body in charge of intelligence gatherings and security, I am requesting you to investigate the source of this document and put a stop to such shenanigans aimed at sowing seeds of discord and hatred among Kenyans”, Nyong’o said.
But the PNU, which is the other partner in the government, immediately dismissed its coalition partner, charging that the ODM is merely looking for a way out of the government.
PNU’s vice chairman, George Nyamweya, said a similar document targeting his party was in circulation prior to the 2007 general elections, and asked the ODM to simply disown it if it was not authentic.
The mystery document claims ODM is plotting to pull out of the coalition government to force elections.
The on-going ODM and PNU wrangles have caused confusion and impacted negatively on the government. Religious leaders and civil society groups have asked the two to resolve their differences amicably.
ODM last week instructed its Ministers in the coalition government to boycott cabinet meetings until the crisis surrounding the suspension of Agriculture Minister William Ruto and Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri is resolved.
But three of its Ministers later made an announcement asking their colleagues not to boycott cabinet meetings, saying the instructions issue by the party was “null and void”.
Kenyan politicians are fond of authoring anonymous documents, and clandestinely circulating them to the public, whenever such politicians are under heavy pressure, as the results of nagging critical issues.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com