ODM tells off affiliate parties over 2022 polls

The Orange Democratic Movement on Wednesday demanded respect from its opposition partners, warning that it will reject attempts to bully it into accommodating their interests.

The party said it is the biggest in the National Super Alliance (Nasa) and should be treated as such.

It went on to order the alliance’s partners — Wiper Democratic Movement, Amani National Congress and Ford Kenya — to stop discussing the 2022 election politics and focus on campaigning for electoral reforms.

“Our party has been forced to whisper when it should shout and stay put when it should move,” tough-talking ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said in the clearest indication yet that all was not well in Nasa.

INFIGHTING
Mr Sifuna, who was clearly directing his remarks at Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, said the Orange party will “no longer apologise” for being the biggest party in the coalition.

In recent days, the Nasa affiliate parties have been sharply divided on whether to focus on a fresh election in August as suggested by opposition leader Raila Odinga, or on the 2022 poll as suggested by the other partners, particularly Mr Mudavadi.

“ODM is the biggest party and it has the largest number of elected leaders,” Mr Sifuna told journalists at Orange House when he took over from nominated senator Agnes Zani, who has been acting secretary-general for over a year.

“We are tall. And when you are tall and your friend is short, they do not tell you to kneel so that you look the same height. They ask you to carry them,” he said of the party that has 98 MPs in both the Senate and the National Assembly.

In comparison, Wiper has only 26 MPs in the bicameral Parliament, ANC 17 and Ford Kenya 13.

DICTATORSHIP
Mr Sifuna said the party will adopt the “ODM first” principle in all its engagements with its partners, echoing US President Donald Trump’s “America First” trade policy.

Mr Sifuna, who was named as secretary-general on Friday, said time is not ripe to talk about the 2022 presidential race.

“We will not discuss 2022 while we have not addressed the issues of electoral justice pending from the 2017 elections. We want to fight the creeping dictatorship in the country,” he said.

“If fighting dictatorship is not in your genetic make-up, then leave this to us whose one and only role is to uproot the dictatorship, and enforce electoral justice.”

Mr Musyoka, Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang’ula missed opposition leader Raila Odinga’s “oath” as the people’s president on January 30, triggering a series of accusations and counter-accusations within the coalition.

The Orange party accused them of abandoning Mr Odinga at the height of his political career.

DISOWN PACT
Already, some ODM members led by Nyando’s Jared Okello and Suba North’s Millie Odhiambo have asked Mr Odinga to dishonour a 2017 pact that requires him to support the three co-principals for the presidency in 2022 following the Uhuru Park event.

That Nasa is grappling with serious differences was highlighted last week when Mr Mudavadi dismissed a call by Mr Odinga to have another election in August.

Following the annulled election on August 2017 and the October 26 repeat poll that Nasa boycotted, Mr Mudavadi argued that the country had not made plans for a third election, and should instead focus on 2022.

“My appeal is singular and clear: Let us look forward. Let us start figuring out whether our strategy was wrong or right. And if it was wrong, let us correct it,” he said, adding that no funds had been allocated for a fresh election, anyway.

REFORMS
In Kakamega, ANC deputy party leader Ayub Savula said he expected ODM to live up to its promise and back any of the co-principals picked as the flag-bearer in 2022.

“We are concerned about the unfolding scenario in the coalition after ODM leaders declared the party was preparing to go it alone at the next presidential elections. That would be an act of betrayal on their part,” Mr Savula, who is also the Lugari MP, said.

Ford Kenya deputy party leader Boni Khalwale said that both the reform agenda and 2022 politics should be discussed.

“Elements within Nasa say that only the reform agenda and not 2022 succession should be on the table.

"The opposition’s redemption however lies in vigorous pursuit of reforms, early choice of 2022 Nasa flagbearer and smart politics," Dr Khalwale said.

Wiper deputy secretary-general Peter Mathuki asked ODM to “come clean” on the 2022 deal.

“What we are seeing is that ODM has taken our 10-year support for granted. ODM needs to show us that they have sacrificed. Let them say outright that they will now support the other principals. And then we’ll see their dignity,” he said.