ODM rivals in fresh demands

The crisis in the Orange Democratic Movement is becoming more complex.

Now three distinct positions are being fronted as solutions to the botched February 28 national election that has threatened to split the party down the middle.

A faction led by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba and Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho is pushing for national elections to be held within the next 30 to 45 days.

Another team led by Funyula MP Paul Otuoma is advocating a broader model that would start with grassroots elections, and even then only after a task force formed to look into the cause and circumstances that led to the aborted February National Delegates Convention hands over its report.

On Friday, Mr Otuoma issued a statement to the effect that the rival camp was set to jump the gun by pre-empting investigations.

The MP, who is eyeing the party’s chairmanship, said his team did not mind elections in 45 days or earlier, but insisted the probe must first be completed. Mr Otuoma also called for a restructuring of the party headquarters, as well as the national elections board.

Complicit
The Otuoma team says ODM and NEB officials should also be investigated for alleged partisan roles in the failed election, including distributing the campaign material of one team during the NDC at the Kasarani Safaricom Stadium.

Mr Otuoma, Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Senator Agnes Zani’s team also want the 2011 delegates list tabled and compared with the one used in Kasarani, following claims that the latter was doctored. Dr Zani’s team says its only after their demands are addressed that they will agree to elections.

Both Dr Zani from Coast and Mr Namwamba (Western) are eyeing the powerful seat of secretary general.

Another team of ODM technocrats wants both Mr Namwamba and Dr Zani’s camps disqualified from vying for posts in the party altogether to avoid splitting it. The group is of the view that both teams are hellbent on dismembering the party and should be disqualified and a “middle-ground” group picked.

The group of mostly technocrats fault Mr Odinga  for having agreed to mediate between the two factions, thereby endorsing the divisions in the party. They want a third force picked to do away with the two teams.

Mr Odinga is currently on a month-long visit to the US.

The visit is coordinated by the African Presidential Centre at the Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.During his absence from the country, Mr Odinga has designated Kisumu County Senator Anyang Nyongo to act as the ODM leader.

On Friday, Prof Nyong’o said the push by Mr Namwamba’s team for elections within 45 days was welcome but that the views should be channeled through a team investigating the botched polls.

ODM had expected to use the momentum from the February election to push certain demands inside and outside Parliament and to reenergise its support base.

The party was expected to make demands regarding reforms in security sector, clear guidelines from the government on plans to arrest unemployment and riding cost of living.

It also wanted to use the election to rally members in Parliament and outside to push for an overhaul of a number of institutions particularly the IEBC.