Raila rallies ODM delegates

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday told ODM members to vigorously campaign for the party and help deliver victory in the General Election.

Mr Odinga, who is also the party leader said ODM, just like many other Kenyans, has patiently waited for the elections, as they would finally prove their popularity.

The PM was addressing newly elected grassroots party officials from the 47 counties.

He mentioned KICC, the place where the results of the 2007 general elections were announced.

President Kibaki was announced the winner of the poll by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, a decision which was contested by ODM which claims the elections were stolen.

“It is now time to avenge the injustices that occurred during that time by winning the forthcoming general elections and taking over the leadership of the country,” he said. “We need numbers in Parliament, in the Senate and a majority of governors to be able to effectively govern this country when we win the elections later in the year.”

In this regard, Mr Odinga said the party will only nominate popular candidates to run on the party’s ticket for the various positions that will be up for grabs when elections are called.

He pointed out that even the sitting MPs and party officials who intend to run for elective office will be subjected to party primaries to pick the best candidate.

Mr Odinga once again reiterated that nominations for the party’s flag bearer would be free and fair and that he will respect the wishes of his party.

Similar sentiments were also made by his main challenger - Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

He said they would mediate in areas where the grassroots elections did not go as planned and where necessary order repeat elections.

Recruitment exercise

He cautioned party officials against attempts to eject their opponents from the party and also discouraged those who lost in the party elections against leaving, saying the party needed all members to be on board to be able to win the elections.

He said, “We need to nurture internal democracy in the party by having free and fair elections, and those who loose should support the winners except in incidence where the party has called for repeat elections.”

He revealed that after the delegates meeting, the party will go round the country this month and the next to popularise itself and recruit more members.

The party will then host a youth and women’s conferences separately before holding its main delegates conference, where new officials will be elected as well as the nomination of their flag bearer.

“Our task is clear, to ensure that we are in government next year. To realise this goal, we need unity of the party on this last leg,” he said.

“Being an election year, we are going to have a lot of mud thrown at us. The aim is to have us go down with the others who are on their way down. Let’s help Kenyans separate the truth from fiction.”

The event was attended by several cabinet ministers allied to the party, MPs and other party officials.

Speaking at the event, Mr Mudavadi also reiterated the importance of remaining united in the party if ODM was to win the election.

He said they should not only focus on winning the presidency but also have the majority in governor, senate, county and national assembly.