Raila Odinga to host ODM loyalists to Sh6,000-a-plate dinner

Cord leader Raila Odinga speaks at an African Organization of Public Accounts Committees at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on August 30, 2016. Mr Odinga on September 1, 2016 appealed to MPs to pass the 2016 Elections Laws (Amendment Bill) without changes. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Sh6,000-a-plate dinner is part of plans by ODM leader Raila Odinga to relaunch his presidential campaign and popularise the party.
  • Acting Secretary-General Agnes Zani said that all party life members had been invited to the ‘goat-eating’ at Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi.
  • The milestone makes ODM one of the oldest political parties in Kenya after the 53-year-old Independence party Kanu and the Democratic Party.

ODM has planned what has been billed as a an exclusive dinner for some of its loyal supporters to celebrate the party’s 10th anniversary on Friday.

The Sh6,000-a-plate dinner is part of plans by ODM leader Raila Odinga to relaunch his presidential campaign and popularise the party.

Acting Secretary-General Agnes Zani said that all party life members had been invited to the ‘goat-eating’ at Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi.

“We are celebrating our 10th anniversary and we thought this should be an interesting opportunity for our party and members. The party leader and this category of members will now have an opportunity to meet and share ideas,” said Dr Zani.

ODM was a creation of a successful campaign in 2006 against what was at the time seen as attempts to introduce a watered-down version of a new Constitution

Mr Odinga, who was a Cabinet minister in then President Mwai Kibaki’s government, led the successful campaign against the draft in a referendum.

Ironically, President Uhuru Kenyatta, at the time the Kanu chairman, supported the No campaign, whose symbol was the orange fruit against the Yes team symbolised by the banana.

The milestone makes ODM one of the oldest political parties in Kenya after the 53-year-old Independence party Kanu and the Democratic Party.

Dr Zani said that all party’s MPs, Governors, Senators, MCAs and members falling within the classified category had been invited to the dinner.

Similar dinners would also be help in the counties, she added.

The nominated Senator said that the party was celebrating the achievements of devolution, of which it is a champion, as part of gains it has recorded over the past years.

Counties have received close to Sh900 million from the national government since the launch of devolution four years ago.

ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed said that despite many challenges, Mr Odinga had led the party to greater success and it was time to review the gains and losses

“Mr Odinga has been at the heart of those achievements,” he explained.