Raila's big plans for Western Kenya amid political war with Mudavadi

ODM leader Raila Odinga has launched his tour of Western Kenya to fortify his foothold, escalating his political war with ANC chief Musalia Mudavadi as the scramble for the region intensifies.

With the Nasa coalition technically ‘dead’ after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Chama cha Mashinani's Isaac Ruto signed a pact with Jubilee, a ferocious battle has emerged for the control of the vote-rich region.

The former Premier arrived at Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s Emabole rural home in Butere on Saturday night and held talks with a section of leaders from the region.

On Sunday morning, he met ODM MCAs from Kakamega County and other stakeholders to plan how to ramp up his support.

Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi attended the Saturday meeting while Justus Kizito (Shinyalu MP) joined the MCAs on Sunday morning.

Journalists and members of the public were locked out of the meeting said to have discussed private matters.

The meeting also reviewed ODM’s position, the raging political heat in Western and possible strategies to sustain Mr Odinga's popularity in the region.

Grassroots meetings

The ODM chief said they will hold grassroots meetings in Kakamega to strengthen their party and ensure the county remains an ODM zone.

He asked party members from the county to remain vigilant and recruit more members to colour Kakamega orange.

“We had planned to have grassroots primaries from March to June ahead of the delegates conference but [these plans were affected by] the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have started strengthening the party at the grassroots,” said Mr Odinga.

This was Raila’s first meeting in the region since the outbreak of the virus, the period in which he fell sick and travelled to Dubai for specialised treatment.

Mr Oparanya assured the ODM boss of unwavering support from the region, which stood with him the three times he vied for the presidency.

He said ODM got affected in 2017 following its merger with Ford-Kenya and Amani National Congress impinging on its dominance in the region.

“But we emerged strong in Kakamega and formed the majority in the county assembly,” said Mr Oparanya, chairman of the Council of Governors.

He told Mr Odinga, “From 2022, I will be leaving county politics to join you at the national level. Where you will direct me is where I will go in the national leadership.”

The meeting came after Mr Oparanya announced that counties will be shut down in the next two weeks should the Senate fail to solve the stalemate surrounding the third generation formula on revenue allocation.

ODM’s Butere chair Habil Nanjendo said Western firmly supports the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga and will rally the people to support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

“Leaders will focus on lobbying for government support to revive the economy that has been affected for many years,” said Mr Nanjendo.

“Defiled” Constitution

Mr Odinga noted the need to enhance devolution, saying the Constitution was “defiled” and has therefore failed to take it to the desired level.

He said the 2010 Constitution was not what Kenyans wanted but that they felt half a loaf of bread was better than nothing so they supported it.

“That is why I sat down with President Kenyatta and agreed to unite the country. We decided to collect views from all Kenyans with the intention of making Kenya a better country to live in,” he said.

He said once the BBI report is released, several articles of the Constitution will be amended through Parliament.

“The BBI is not about constitutional amendments but addressing the many other challenges that affect Kenyans. We want to know how communities can live together and appreciate each other,” said Mr Odinga.

He said the report will point at articles in the Constitution that require amendments and be forwarded to Parliament for review.

Mr Odinga said some of the articles are achievable but that the two levels of governments are not implementing so they should be pushed to do so.

“Other articles need to be fully furnished and will be subjected to a referendum,” he said.

On the revenue stalemate between the Commission on Revenue Allocation and the Senate, he said a solution is needed urgently.

He said the debate on allocation of funds to counties should be handled with sobriety so that all parties win.