Is the Orange Democratic Movement Party in government or not? This has been the biggest question ever since President William Ruto entered into an agreement with Azimio leader Raila Odinga to form the broad-based government that has absorbed some individuals from the Opposition.
On the sidelines of the just concluded Nyanza International Investment Conference, our writer Rushdie Oudia, spoke with the Interim Party Leader of ODM and Kisumu County Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o on a couple of issues affecting the orange party and posed the million-dollar question to the professor.
A: This happens very often even in the Conservative and Labour Party. In the United States now, President Donald Trump, who is a Republican, is appointing some people from the Democratic Party. This does not mean that the Democratic Party has joined the government. When it happens here in Kenya, why does it become so strange? It is individuals with expertise who have been appointed and the party has said “let them perform” but we continue as the Opposition, as the party secretary-general Edwin Sifuna has always stated in past interviews. So I hope the Sifuna interview and my statements today will end this debate because it is now becoming very ridiculous.
Q: But, don’t you think this unique collaboration with the government is confusing Kenyans and more so your supporters?
A: We did say clearly that there was an agreement between our party leader and the President that needed some personnel from ODM in government. We said no problem, we have lots of them and he chose a few to help in offering technical support to the government in the interest of the nation. I have always told people that the party can have relations at various levels. It does not mean that because you are in the opposition, you cannot agree on certain issues.
A: What has not changed is Members of Parliament from ODM performing their oversight mandate on behalf of the people of Kenya, according to the policy and ideology of the party.
Q: But there are elected members of ODM who have declared that they have no business criticising a government they are part of. They have even turned out to be the government’s strongest defenders, a section of Kenyans call them the ‘Praise and worship’ team of the Kenya Kwanza regime. Will the party take action against such members?
A: The party has rules, if we feel they are going overboard, we shall call them to order.
Q: Talking of popularity, your political rivals are camping in areas that have historically voted overwhelmingly for ODM and its leader Raila Odinga, in a bid to woo your supporters. Do these in-roads by politicians, including President Ruto and other parties, in your strongholds worry you?
A: These people are just t embelearing (visiting) and there are no inroads that I have seen. By the way, they are free to tour our region as much as they want, because our members are not for sale. They are as firm as a Mimosa Tree on the ground. They may come, but the Mimosa tree will not allow them to uproot it from the ground.
Q: So according to you, is ODM still strongly rooted on the ground and enjoys the massive support it has over the years?
A: Very strong, and rooted like a Mimosa Tree
A: We carried out grassroots elections all over the country and results have been put in the party records. We are starting a training programme for those who were elected. We are going to begin this Sunday (today) in Kakamega, together with the chairperson Gladys Wanga and other elected leaders from the county. The meeting which will have party officials from all the branches in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia Counties, will lay the ground for the upcoming ODM regional delegates convention to be held in Busia County on February 28.
