Bungoma governor and Ford Kenya deputy leader Kenneth Lusaka, Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula and Teso South MP Mary Emase during a presser at Golf hotel in Kakamega on Tuesday /IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO
Leaders of the recently launched Broad-based
Western for Ruto initiative have dismissed accusations by ODM that it is
aiding UDA to carry out a hostile takeover of its networks.
The lobby’s deputy regional
co-ordinator Ayub Savula said claims by ODM deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi
are untrue.
He urged Osotsi to put his house in
order and convince ODM followers to stay.
Savula said ODM members supporting
Ruto’s re-election are doing so on personal volition.
“Whether one is in ODM or UDA, we
have only one broad-based government presidential candidate and that is William
Ruto,” he said.
“We used to vote for Raila Odinga
as a bloc and we are transferring our support to William Ruto, now that Raila
is not here.”
Savula spoke at the burial service
of Josephine Makhulungu at Mukonge in Mautuma ward, Lugari constituency on
Saturday.
He said elections are about
competition and not zoning. The deputy governor, who on Monday announced that
he was done with DAP-K, said he is headed to UDA.
On Thursday, Osotsi accused UDA of
orchestrating a covert and illegal takeover of ODM’s grassroots networks in
Western.
He said some ODM legislators and
officials in Vihiga and Kakamega counties have been attending UDA campaign and
electoral strategy meetings under a non-existent co-operation agreement between
the two parties.
Osotsi said ODM members are being
approached to facilitate and participate in UDA grassroots elections, adding
that UDA has gone further to form a regional presidential campaign caucus with
ODM members.
“This is a predatory,
operation aimed at weakening ODM at a vulnerable moment as the party
reorganises following the death of our former party leader Raila,” Osotsi said.
The Broad-based Western for Ruto’s
Re-election initiative was unveiled in Kakamega on Monday last week.
It will spearhead campaigns for
Ruto’s re-election across the vote-rich region by sensitising residents on the
government’s achievements.
Bungoma Governor and Ford Kenya
deputy leader Kenneth Lusaka heads it.
Teso South MP Mary Emase is the
secretary and Beatrice Adagala treasurer.
MP Ernest Ogesi (Vihiga-UDA) will
co-ordinate the team’s activities in Vihiga county, Fred Ikana (Shinyalu-UDA),
Kakamega county, Kakai Bisau (Kiminini-ODM) Trans-Nzoia county, Emase (UDA)
Busia county) and Dan Wanyama (Webuye West -UDA) Bungoma county.
Political analyst Prof Amukowa
Anangwe has said ODM is struggling to cope with the sudden death of Raila.
Anangwe said factions that have
emerged in ODM are sympathetic of the tensions and competing political forces.
“Depending on how things play out,
ODM may emerge weaker than it has been and may never recover, notwithstanding
the self denial amongst its top leadership that is still hoping that nothing
has changed,” he said.
Anangwe said the games and
intrigues in ODM are likely to persist because the current situation in the
party is a political nightmare for people who used to hang on Raila’s coat for
political survival and are trying to find a footing.
He said most ODM MPs could be
preparing to jump ship from the sinking party to UDA.
“The general upshot is that things
will never be the same for ODM again. The party is slowly dying,” Anangwe said.