Raila to host dinner for young voters at Bomas of Kenya
From left: Orange Democratic Movement's youth national deputy treasurer Sheila Koskei, secretary-general Agnes Zani and youth league chairman John Ketora at Orange House in Nairobi on October 10, 2016. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Agnes Zani, Orange Democratic Movement's acting secretary-general, says party hopes to reach out to thousands of young people across Kenya to discuss politics and economy.
She says it is targeting of 5,000 youth in each county.
ODM leader Raila Odinga will host a dinner for hundreds of young voters at Bomas of Kenya on Friday.
This will be part of his campaign to win over the youth in his bid for State House.
Acting party secretary-general Agnes Zani said ODM hopes to reach out to thousands of young people across the country, with a target of 5,000 in each county, to discuss politics and the economy. She said the forums, known as kikao (sessions), are designed so Mr Odinga can connect with the youth.
Ms Zani said the Bomas of Kenya will be followed by another youth forum in Kisii on Saturday.
The party held its first youth forum in Mombasa on May 29; and the second one in Kakamega on June 18.
Speaking on the phone, ODM chairman John Mbadi said they want the youth to understand Mr Odinga’s role in the country’s liberation.
Mr Mbadi, who is also Gwassi MP, said Kisii Governor James Ongwae will plan the event.
Party officials said that Mr Odinga will only preside over the forum and also make roadside addresses.
Mr Odinga will filed questions from the youth at the forum.
Mr Ongwae said invitations had been sent to more than 3,000 young people. The theme is ‘Empowering the youth in development’,” he said.
JUBILEE’S STRATEGY
The appeal to youth tries to mirror Jubilee’s strategy rooted in the support of the youth. Jubilee won the last elections by popularising the ‘digital versus analogue’.
Mr Odinga is fighting with his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Party) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) for the Cord ticket.
On Thursday, ODM Youth League national chairman John Ketora said the young people would be from colleges and universities.
The ODM leader’s political strategists, it is understood, came up with the strategy following the realisation that most of the youth born after 1999 and who will turn 18 and be eligible to vote were ignorant of the role the former PM played in the country’s second liberation.
The events, according to the organisers, are aimed at ensuring that Mr Odinga reaches young people on social media.
The Cord leader, according to Dr Zani’s statement, is also scheduled to address an elders’ forum at Kibigori on the Kisumu-Nandi border on Sunday.
In Kakamega, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya asked Mr Wetang’ula to stop wasting time jostling to become the Cord flag bearer in 2017. The ODM deputy party leader said the Bungoma senator was not serious about the presidency.
Mr Oparanya said the Ford Kenya leadership had shown little respect for Mr Odinga.
Reportby Justus Ochieng, Benson Amadala and Aggrey Omboki.
