Raila moves to woo voters in Mudavadi's turf

Prime Minister Raila Odinga moves to consolidate his support in western Kenya this weekend with a series of rallies in Kakamega and Busia counties.

Irked by the defection of his deputy and ally turned rival, Musalia Mudavadi, the ODM leader plans to address a rally in Kakamega’s Muliro Gardens on Saturday before holding another in Busia Town on Sunday in Mudavadi’s backyard.

Six ODM MPs told journalists in Nairobi Wednesday that there would be a caravan in various parts of Western ahead of the rallies.

“This is part of our efforts to mobilise and popularise the party and hold a recruitment drive,” Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba who is also ODM’s parliamentary group secretary said.

Accompanied by assistant ministers Alfred Khang’ati, Sospeter Ojaamong and MPs Wilbur Ottichilo, Edick Anyanga and Alfred Odhiambo, Mr Namwamba urged ODM supporters to turn up in large numbers for the events.

Western is perceived to be Mr Mudavadi’s stronghold although a majority of ODM MPs from the region have stuck with Mr Odinga after the Sabatia MP decamped to UDF on whose ticket he expects to vie for the presidency.

This weekend’s events come after the Orange party and UDF held parallel rallies at the Coast last weekend to weigh their political muscle and fight for control of the region’s votes.

On Wednesday, the ODM MPs laughed at complaints by UDF that it was bent on organising parallel events wherever the latter went to disrupt its activities.

“We are surprised by the complaint. UDF is not even a parliamentary party. We don’t regard UDF to be a serious rival. We can’t waste our time on it. ODM has a programme to engage party supporters countrywide and is not drawn on basis of activities of other political parties,” Mr Namwamba said at Parliament Buildings.

The MPs told UDF to stop being “cry babies and concentrate on trying to build their little pond”.

Mr Namwamba denied that there was rivalry between ODM and UDF.

“Rivalry could only happen between equals. ODM is mature while UDF is a baby still in diapers and the two can’t be compared. It would be strange for a mature mother to fight a breastfeeding baby,” Mr Namwamba said.

Mr Khangati said ODM was ready to engage UDF on serious issues affecting the country like the Goldenberg, the Nairobi Cemetery and Anglo Leasing scandals.

Mr Namwamba also scoffed at claims by UDF MPs that ODM was “stalking” it by filing a motion in the House for the formation of an adhoc committee to address the grievances raised by the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council.

The Budalangi MP said he was the first to file a motion for the establishment of a parliamentary select committee on redressing historical injustices last Friday and that UDF only announced its intention at the weekend.

“House Business is not conducted by intentions in press conferences. My motion was cleared by the Office of the Speaker and is not just about MRC but much broader. My motion is about addressing issues that have caused concerns to populations,” Mr Namwamba said.