ODM branches back Raila tour of Central

• Party officials come out to welcome PM’s visit as critics back down

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s controversial tour of Central Province gathered some momentum on Sunday with Orange branch officials formally endorsing the visit.

Mr Odinga is planning to visit Kigumo in Murang’a later in the month in what is being seen as a political foray into the heartland of some of his political rivals.

Political leaders from Central were initially against the visit, but the opposition seems to have waned. A number of MPs and councillors have encouraged the PM to go ahead with his tour.

On Sunday, a group of ODM officials from branches in Central addressed a press conference in Nairobi and said their invitation to Mr Odinga was a sign of “renewed nationalism”.

“We therefore propagate renewed nationalism and enhance our national values in inviting the PM of the Republic of Kenya to Central Province,” they said in a statement.

In reference to those objecting to the visit, the officials said: “They all know that if elections are called even now, Mr Odinga will beat them hands down.”

Led by group secretary Ngaire Ikinya, chairman Githinji Wan’gondu and Dr Mathenge Thuo, they said they had consulted with MPs and councillors to identify the development projects Mr Odinga is to visit.

They backed Mr Odinga’s positions on public issues, such as his demand for the sacking of Education minister Prof Sam Ongeri and his permanent secretary Prof Karega Mutahi and the eviction of rich landowners in Mau Forest.

The Luo and the Kikuyu have been political rivals for nearly 40 years. Some analysts see Mr Odinga’s foray into Central as a subtle challenge on home ground to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, President Kibaki’s presumed heir in Central politics.

On Thursday, Mr Kenyatta said he had no objection to Mr Odinga visiting any part of the country.

“There can be no objection to leaders travelling to any part of the Republic, especially if they are doing so to assist in the development of the country,” the statement by Mr Kenyatta’s principal liaison officer, Mr Njee Muturi said.

During the 2002 presidential election, he said, Mr Kenyatta got more votes from other parts of the country than from Central Province.

Some MPs, seen as Mr Kenyatta’s supporters, including Kigumo’s Jamleck Kamau and Kamukunji’s Simon Mbugua, initially opposed the visit, arguing it was intended to undermine Mr Kenyatta.

Last week 29 mayors and council chairmen from Central and Rift Valley provinces endorsed the visit.

They said as a leader of the government, Mr Odinga had a right to visit any part of the country. The councillors said they would support visits aimed at addressing development issues in the region, adding that they were only opposed to political bickering and divisive politics.

And in Thika, a cross section of leaders from various parts of Central Province also supported Mr Odinga’s planned visit to Murang’a.

Led by Thika ODM coordinator Ng’ang’a Wanjukira and Gatanga PNU official Patrick Karangu, the leaders said the PM’s visit offers a chance for the people to present their development agenda to the government.

Former Juja MP Stephen Ndicho criticised those opposed to the visit, saying they are “living in a gone political era”. Nyeri county council chairman Wachira Keen questioned why the visit was causing a stir.

Commenting on the visit, former Kanu strongman Joseph Kamotho said Mr Odinga, like other presidential candidates, is keen to win the support of the electorate in Central province because it is rich in votes.

Dr Philip Nyinguro, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said the PM appeared to be gaining support in Central because he is being backed by the political elite from the region.

By Kenneth Ogosia, Lucas Barasa, Oliver Musembi and Muchemi Wachira