Why party boss’ retreat saved ODM
What you need to know:
- The elders had vowed to ditch ODM en mass should the party settle on Mr Odinga as its candidate in the Senate seat race.
- The leaders who included former Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo and MCA’s Isaac Ouso Nyandege, Julius Gaya, Silvance Wanjala Kasera and Bishop Wanga Otuoma opposed Mr Odinga’s replacement of Mr Kajwang’ who died last month.
The decision by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to decline a push to have him replace Mr Otieno Kajwang’ as Homa Bay Senator came in the wake of frenzied negative political activities against him.
Signs that all was not well emerged on Sunday after a group of about 100 leaders, among them the County Chairman of Luo Council of Elders, Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi, held a parallel meeting where they criticised their colleagues who were holed up in a meeting at Mr Odinga’s Opoda Farm in Siaya County.
The leaders who included former Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo and MCA’s Isaac Ouso Nyandege, Julius Gaya, Silvance Wanjala Kasera and Bishop Wanga Otuoma opposed Mr Odinga’s replacement of Mr Kajwang’ who died last month.
HOLD PARALLEL RALLY
The elders had vowed to ditch ODM en mass should the party settle on Mr Odinga as its candidate in the Senate seat race.
The other key resolution was that the team would hold a parallel rally on the December 11, 2014 to counter one the ODM leader was expected to hold at Homa Bay County stadium.
Yesterday, opposition against the nomination of the former premier dominated discussions in Homa Bay town and market centres.
Local ODM branch officials led by Acting Chairperson Monica Amolo had held a series of meetings to drum up support for Mr Odinga, amid threats from youths opposed to it.
