Wetang’ula, Kalonzo told to prove their political strength
Cord leader Raila Odinga (right), Kisii County governor James Ongwae (centre) and Kisii County Assembly majority leader Protus Moindi (left) walk into Kisii Sports Club on August 8, 2016. Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula have been challenged to prove their political strength first before seeking Odinga’s blessings. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- ODM leaders on Monday argued that they were preparing the ground for Mr Odinga to launch his presidential bid in next year’s elections.
- Party national chairman John Mbadi, deputy organising secretary Florence Mutua and treasurer Timothy Bosire announced on Monday that the party was currently working on modalities for Mr Odinga to finally launch his 2017 Presidential bid.
- Mr Odinga had at the weekend said he was willing to support any candidate to take on President Uhuru Kenyatta who will be seeking re-election on a Jubilee ticket.
Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula have been challenged to prove their political strength first before seeking ODM leader Raila Odinga’s blessings as the coalition flag bearer.
ODM leaders on Monday took the tough position, arguing that they were preparing the ground for Mr Odinga to launch his presidential bid in next year’s elections.
The leaders challenged those seeking to be the opposition’s compromise presidential candidate to prove their worth before asking Cord leader Raila Odinga to back their bid.
Party national chairman John Mbadi, deputy organising secretary Florence Mutua and treasurer Timothy Bosire announced on Monday that the party was currently working on modalities for Mr Odinga to finally launch his 2017 Presidential bid.
This comes at a time Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetang’ula are lobbying the Orange leader’s support for presidential bids.
Mr Odinga had at the weekend said he was willing to support any candidate to take on President Uhuru Kenyatta who will be seeking re-election on a Jubilee ticket.
The decision, he said, will be made if his candidacy is proved to be an impediment to a Cord victory.
MARKET ODINGA CANDIDACY
Mr Mbadi said the party’s elaborate plan to market Mr Odinga’s candidacy across the country was aimed at mobilising support in readiness for the 2017 elections.
Mr Bosire declared that their party would visit all parts of the country, including Jubilee zones.
Ms Mutua said: “No one can match RAO (Mr Odinga) when it comes to popularity, people and resource mobilisation”.
“We have plans to popularise our party and Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and are currently working a bit out of Cord by focusing on strengthening ODM,” Mr Mbadi told the Nation.
Mr Wetangula who is the Bungoma senator on Sunday led a section of Ford-Kenya MPs in asking Mr Odinga to support his bid in next year’s polls. He was hosting a meeting at the Nzioa Sugar Company Guest House in Bungoma county.
Ms Mutua said: “No one can match RAO (Mr Odinga) when it comes to popularity, people and resource mobilisation and most of all the charisma. RAO was detained fighting for democracy and change for the citizenry for the longest time. No one can match that,”
She added; “Some of those who want to be endorsed are regional leaders and we don’t know what they stand for. A party is just not an issue of winning two or three seats and then you think you can match Raila, have ideologies that people can believe in then people will believe in your party and then yourself as a leader. RAO will be on the ballot.”
