ODM is mounting a fresh political offensive in the Maa community, with the outfit set to spend three days in Kajiado and Narok in a bid to shore up its support amid threats of a mass walkout.
The party’s machinery was on Thursday deployed in Kajiado, where it intends to consolidate its support following threats by Governor Joseph Lenku to lead a mass defection.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga led the ODM national brigade to Lenku’s Kajiado backyard in what was widely seen as a move to avert the fallout.
Speaking in Kajiado on Thursday, she urged the community to remain in the party, highlighting the party’s long history in the region.
“There is no ODM without Maa community. We must walk together going forward,” Wanga said.
From Narok, the ODM caravan will Friday move to Majimoto Naroosura in Narok South, then to Nkareta in Narok North on Saturday.
The offensive came against the backdrop of growing discontent within the party in Kajiado, where Governor Lenku has threatened to lead a mass exit from ODM, accusing the party leadership of abandoning the community and promoting political rivals.
He has particularly protested against ODM officials who, he says, have been campaigning for State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito, despite his deputy, Martin Moshisho, seeking the Kajiado governor’s seat on the ODM ticket.
Last month, he accused the Orange party’s bigwigs of betraying its members in the region by openly supporting rival candidates for the Kajiado governor’s seat.
“My brother Moshisho [Martin Martine] is looking for a governor ticket from that party. A month ago you saw non-ODM allied leaders seeking votes for the governorship position. Metito. We are still waiting for an apology from those who wronged us to say sorry,” he said.
“There are leaders seeking money from Katoo to sell out ODM. The other says 10 MCAs defected from UDA to DCP because of Katoo’s poor leadership. If we allow more to do that, then ODM will be weak in Kajiado.”
The governor warned that ODM risks losing its foothold in Kajiado if the concerns of its supporters are ignored, saying the community would no longer accept political decisions imposed on it.
His threats have since triggered a sharp response from ODM officials, with acting secretary general Catherine Omanyo challenging him to quit the party if he is dissatisfied.
“If he wants to leave, let him go alone and sink on his own. Let him not drag the rest of the Maasai community down with him,” Omanyo said.
ODM youth president John Ketora also fired at the governor, accusing him of starting a war with the party to hide his ‘underperformance’.
“I challenge him to make good his threat. There are people who have not done anything to the people and now want to divert attention,” Ketora told the Star.
The three-day tour therefore offers ODM an opportunity to directly engage its supporters and leaders in a region that has become increasingly competitive ahead of the election.
The Maa region has attracted heightened political attention since the death of former ODM leader Raila Odinga, who had established a significant political following in Kajiado and Narok.
In the 2022 presidential election, Raila led President William Ruto in both counties.
Raila got 158,526 votes in Kajiado against Ruto’s 148,439, the same pattern played out in Narok where they got 129,350 votes and 123,350 votes respectively.
There is a developing contest over the Maa vote, with Ruto using government projects and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua positioning himself around regional interests.
ODM’s decision to intensify its activities in the two counties also comes after Ruto recently undertook a three-day tour of Kajiado, followed by his August visit to Narok, as the ruling side seeks to deepen its presence in the region.
The Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper Patriotic Front has also intensified its overtures in the region.
