Poll debacle haunts ODM reloaded

By KENAN MIRUKA and Naftal Makori

The ODM reloaded caravan tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties re-opened rivalries of last year’s grassroots polls.

Supporters of Information and Communication assistant minister Simon Ogari and city lawyer Joash Maangi clashed at Ogembo town after Maangi was denied a chance to address the rally despite insisting he was the elected party sub branch chairman.

Ogari challenged the party leadership to accept there is a problem in Kisii and look for ways to solve it.

“ODM as a party has many fish in Kisii but the fishermen are literally fighting over hooks impeding the fishing expedition. We have to address the wounds from the grassroots polls to move on as a party,” said Ogari.

He lamented that little effort had been made to address the rifts despite formal petitions filed with the party’s elections board.

“Voters are with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, but the local leadership is not in harmony. Obure cannot purport to unite the disgruntled members because his election as branch chairman is in question. A meeting should be called at national level to sort this mess,” urged Ogari.

NO RECONCILIATION
Just a few days after the leaders agreed to bury the hatchet, Nyamira County ODM Chairman Mr Timothy Bosire and West Mugirango MP Dr James Gesami clashed publicly on Sunday as their supporters scuffled even before the caravan could start.

At Nyamaiya, Gesami refused to allow the Nyamira party leader to take charge of the campaign.
“I am the area MP and I will not allow you to dictate how things should run,” said Gesami as their supporters ranted to the dismay of ODM MPs present.

At Ikonge, Gesami maintained that the caravan was not a campaign for individuals eying parliamentary positions, but solely to popularise Raila Odinga’s presidential candidature.

Public Works minister Chris Obure said Bosire and Gesami had earlier reconciled.
“We had resolved the differences and they reconciled but it now appears our effort was not as conclusive,” said Obure.