Rebels will lose seats in 2017, ODM warns

Orange Democratic Movement has warned party members warming up to Jubilee of losing their seats in next year’s election.

This came as five MPs from western region urged party leader Raila Odinga to stop “wasting his time trying to win the Luhya community’s support”.

ODM acting secretary-general Agnes Zani and treasurer Timothy Bosire said its leaders, who were being lured by the Jubilee coalition, will lose their seats because “they were not with the people”.

Dr Zani said the party was keen on retaining its bases and would ensure they had the best candidates.

“At the leadership level they can make decisions as leaders but on the ground, the people will make their own decision,” she said.

She was referring to a dozen party MPs mainly from its strongholds of western, Kisii and Coast who have stated that they will not defend their seats on the Orange party’s ticket.

In Western, MPs Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and John Waluke (Sirisia) have quit their positions in the party and are seeking “green grass” elsewhere.

In Kisii, Senator Chris Obure and Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka have declared their readiness to quit ODM while in Coast, MPs Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North), Mustafa Iddi (Kilifi South), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni) and Zainab Chidzuga (Kwale) have said they will join Jubilee.

President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Kisii and Kwale leaders at State House, a move seen as targeting Mr Odinga’s bases.

Mr Bosire said the Gusii leaders and other ODM rebels warming up to Jubilee were on their own.

“They are motivated by something else other than interests and wishes of the people,” he said.

“As a party we will continue with our efforts. We are keeping in touch with our bases as we usually do and just letting them know what we stand for as a party and ensuring we have the right candidates to stand in different places,” explained Dr Zani.

SHIFTING SUPPORT
But, Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba dismissed Mr Odinga’s claims that next year’s presidential election will be a two-horse race.

Speaking in Busia, he said his “third force”, which brought together leaders from across the country, would tilt the political arena.

“If there is any seat I am going to win on any ticket is Budalang’i. I wish elections were held tomorrow to prove people wrong,” he said.

In Kakamega, MPs Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and David Were (Matungu) said the region was keen to shift its support to the Jubilee Party in 2017.

They described the recent political forays in western region by Mr Odinga as a “desperate attempt to hoodwink Luhyas to back his presidential bid next year”.

“In the 2013 polls, Mr Odinga got 700,000 votes from western but instead of thanking communities for the support, he is busy demonising those who helped him enjoy the overwhelming support,” said Mr Savula.

Elsewhere, ODM national chairman John Mbadi has threatened to call for street protests if the next elections are conducted using the current voters’ list.

“We are not prepared to participate in such an election that has already been predetermined,” he said at Nduta Primary in Homa Bay Town.

Report by Justus Ochieng, Maurice Kaluoch and Benson Amadala