Don't panick, Ruto lobby tells ODM as it rules out zoning in Western

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.

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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.