Raila’s new power plan as Mudavadi hosts President

ODM leader Raila Odinga hopes to use the line-up that will emerge from the forthcoming party elections to make a formidable and perhaps final stab at the presidency. (ALSO READ: Uhuru to attend memorial for Mudavadi's father)

He has braved rebellion from allies in his Luo Nyanza backyard who insist that Kisumu senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o - the outgoing secretary-general - should be replaced by somebody from the area.

Mr Odinga’s close allies Friday told Saturday Nation that he wants to inject energy into the party which, until last week, was the most popular in the country since its formation eight years ago.

Sources within the party also confided that there are aspirants Mr Odinga wants in the party hierarchy and he is ready to engage in negotiations that will see them elected even if it means asking them to contest slots other than those they had initially expressed interest in.

The position that has generated the most heat is that of secretary-general which is being eyed by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba and nominated senators Agnes Zani and Elizabeth Ongoro.

Dr Paul Otuoma, Mr Josephat Nanok, Mr Manson Nyamweya, Mr Isaac Mwilu and Mr Mpuru M’Aburi are vying for the chairman’s position.

The deputy party leader’s position has attracted Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).

While both are loyalists, some in Raila’s camp prefer Mr Joho because he can bankroll party activities. With this in mind, they had initially asked Mr Joho to go for the chairmanship and leave the deputy leader’s seat to Mr Oparanya.

Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang and Eldas MP Aden Keynan have been cleared for the vice-chairman seat.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandai and nominated MP Isaac Mwaura will fight it out for the deputy secretary-general’s post with Abdikaddir Adan.

Others cleared to vie include former Nairobi mayor George Aladwa and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo, for organising secretary, while Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire, Bomachoge’s Simon Ogari and Wajir ODM chairman Ibrahim Mohammed Omar will run for treasurer’s position.

Mr Odinga’s confidantes say he prefers Mr Bosire because of his deep pockets.

Analysts say Mr Odinga should use the new dispensation emerging out of the polls to reinvigorate its opposition agenda.

POPULAR CRITICISM

“ODM has been in a slumber long before the elections in March last year. Outmanoeuvred by the Jubilee Alliance during the campaign and then in court, it is difficult to think of one occasion since when the party has inspired popular criticism of the government,” academic and political commentator Daniel Branch told Saturday Nation.

“Even when gifted with moments of ineptitude by the government, ODM has spurned the opportunities to reinvigorate itself in the opposition,” said Dr Branch.  

“The pessimists in the party seem to think the best that can be hoped for is for the party to close ranks around its Luo heartland.  Such a strategy can only lead to oblivion in 2017,” said Dr Branch, referring to Luo Nyanza MPs who insist key positions should remain in the region since it is the bastion of the party.

Mr Gumbo, one of the moderates in the party and a close ally of Mr Odinga, said the former PM was looking for new blood to energise the party and ensure it maintained a national image.

“We have had a shot at the presidency thrice and we have made some mistakes but we have leant lessons from our electoral losses,” Mr Gumbo said.

But he was quick to defend the old guard, saying what the party was seeking was a fusion of new blood and experience “since the latter is not taught in any college”.

He said the sulking by MPs who have been complaining that they were pushed out of the contest would not harm Mr Odinga’s chances since the MP leading the rebellion had walked that path before and met with defeat.

The battle for powerful positions in the February 28 polls has intensified.