By Peter K’opiyo
The cracks and gaps within the ODM party continue to widen as different factions of the formation pull apart.
On Sunday, EALA legislator Winnie Odinga and her camp toured Kibra to engage residents on which way the ODM party would take.
As the pro-broad-based team led by her uncle and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga camped in western Kenya having rally in Kakamega, the youthful wing led by the late Raila Odinga’s campaign confidant and daughter Winnie held their public consultative forum in Kamukunji, Kibra constituency.
“Hii ndio ODM asili. Na sisi tunasema tunataka NDC ili nyinyi wenyewe ndio mchague watakaotuongoza,” stated one of the grass root leaders of the party.
The National Delegates Conference (NDC) was highly demanded by leaders present, urging the senior party officials to calm down, give a listening ear and have everybody involved.
Raila Odinga Junior who accompanied Winnie, reminded the ODM fanatics that he is a registered voter in Kibra, urging residents to turn up in large numbers and register as voters.
Junior further appreciated the crowd for standing with them during the hard times as they grieved the loss of their father, Raila.
Moreover, he also hinted at his father’s dream for transformation of Kibra adding that the late Raila had a vision for financial empowerment, education and literacy, revealing that he and his siblings are keen on following in the same footprints their father had established.
“Kabla hatujaongea hiyo mambo mengine, tunafuatilia hiyo ndoto ya Baba. Msituwache. Tukae Pamoja,” voiced Junior.
“Pole, poleni sana. Mlimpoteza Baba, na najua huo uchungu wenu,” stated Winnie.
“Haikisha ID uko nayo, na hakikisha uko na voter’s card. Kwenye hii NDC mambo itakuwa noma,” she added stated authoritatively.
“Hakuna mtu atatolewa kwa hii chama, hakuna siku baba aliwahi ambia mtu atoke kwa hii chama. Wanaongea mingi na tukiwakosoa wanasema tutoke kwa chama. Tukitoka nani atabaki kwa hii chama?” stated Raila’s lastborn as she seemed to respond to threats of ejecting politicians opposed to the broad-based agreement between ODM and UDA
The crowd got more charged when she hinted at reading from the same script, with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna.
Other issues raised by the grassroot leaders included free and fair elections, besides transparency and fairness. Moreover, Winnie Odinga was urged to join the 2027 Kibra parliamentary race.
"Winnie amka, sisi tuko nyuma yako. Hakuna mwenye anaingia hapa na party ingine," said a grassroot leader popularly known as Ole Lenku, adding that it would be instrumental having Winnie at the ODM decision making table as he called for a public engagement forum.
Perpetua Mponjiwa, Nairobi County Assembly nominated MCA called for youth involvement in party politics and decisions made by the party.
"Sisi ni vijana na tuko ndani ya ODM na hatubanduki ndani ya ODM. Leo tumekuja Kamukunji. Si mumetuona? Tunasema kwa hiyo meza yenye wanatengeneza, sisi kama vijana hatutaivunja, ila tunataka nafasi ya vijana kwa hiyo meza," divulged Perpetua.
On his part, Nairobi County Assembly Majority Chief Whip and Kilimani Ward MCA, Moses Ogeto, declared full support for the ODM freshmen and women, noting that Kenya's politics would always be shaped by Kamukunji declarations.
"Kamkunji imesema party leader Oburu Odinga ahakikishe kwa wiki mbili, Winnie Odinga akae kwa hiyo meza," stated Ogeto, adding that it is only Winnie who understood what her late father stood for and envisioned for this country.