Confusion marks ODM grassroots polls

As ODM carries on with the countrywide grassroots elections, the scramble for positions both at the branch and county levels has remained a major headache for the party leader Raila Odinga as his allies square it out.

In Homa Bay, chairmanship aspirant Gladys Wanga has recorded a statement with the police claiming her life is in danger as the situation gets ugly.

And the recent  indefinite postponement of elections in Homa Bay, Kisii and Nyamira attests to the confusion that has gripped the exercise.

This has raised questions over whether the country’s biggest opposition party has the capacity to conduct internal polls.

Many are also sceptical as to whether the party and, by extension Cord coalition, is prepared for political duel in 2017.

In Homa Bay, which is arguably the bedrock of ODM in Nyanza, analysts are quick to point out  that the party could face the 2017 elections a sharply divided house if it does not move with speed to unite the two factions that  emerged  following abortive and violent elections.

During the abortive elections in Homa Bay, two candidates that were battling it out for the county chairmanship, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma and County Woman MP Mrs Wanga, ended up conducting parallel elections.

Analysts say the Homa Bay case is tricky as wounds opened by the shambolic nominations for the senatorial elections following the death of Senator Otieno Kajwang are yet to heal.

Although many had expected that the grassroots elections would act as a unifying factor for local politicians ahead of the 2017 polls, they however left the county more divided.

The current division in Homa Bay is likely to be a cause of worry for party leader Raila Odinga because it involves two of his fierce and strong supporters, Mr Kaluma and Mrs Wanga.

During the  burial of Mzee Johnson Kidero Agango, the father of Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero, soon after the bungled ODM party polls, Mr Odinga had an opportunity to gauge the mood in the county.

Mr Odinga did not respond to remarks from the mourners who had demanded that he declare his stand as to who between Kaluma and Mrs Wanga is the bona fide county chairperson.

It is, however, clear that even though the burial function was not the perfect occasion for Mr Odinga to deal with the Homa Bay case, there is an urgent need for him to intervene so as to restore order and put an end to the current confusion.

Many are, however, keenly waiting to see what steps the party leader will take to forestall the growing disaffection  among party supporters brought about by the bungled  party elections.

According  to  Rangwe MP George Oner, who  supports Mr Kaluma, their camp also has James Rege (Karachuonyo), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita) and Agostinho Neto Oyugi (Ndhiwa).

Mr Kaluma also enjoys the support of 47 MCAs led by the  Leader of Majority in the County Assembly, Michael Owino Ooro.

The Homa Bay Town MP also has the support of the county government as was evident during the campaigns by Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata, who has been the County ODM treasurer.

During the campaigns, Mr Orata said that given that the local county government was in office courtesy of ODM, both him and Governor Cyprian Awiti have the right to support a candidate of their choice.

On her side, Mrs Wanga  has MPs Joseph Oyugi Magwanga (Kasipul),  Silvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), John Mbadi (Suba) and 17 MCAs.

The entry of Mr Mbadi in the Homa Bay ODM politics has placed him on a collision path with supporters of Mr Kaluma who are unhappy that his support gravitates towards Mrs Wanga.

Mr Mbadi is, however, quick to point out that as a Member of Parliament in Homa Bay, he can support whoever he likes.

Many continue to wonder what the situation will be like during the party primaries in 2017.

What some party supporters have said is that unless something is done quickly, a county like Homa Bay where all the eight MPs, governor, senator and county women MPs were elected on an ODM ticket in 2013 may witness an exodus.