By Vitalis Kimutai
ODM-Kenya has changed its colours and symbol in readiness for the 2012 General Election.
The party National Executive Council (NEC) members approved plans to drop the one-and-a-half orange symbol in favour of an umbrella inscripted with the word, Wiper.
The party has also picked earth red, white and sky blue to replace the blue, white and orange colours that it has long used.
"The move is meant to avoid confusion which prevailed in the last election where most of our supporters voted for our rival with a full orange as their symbol (ODM)," ODM-Kenya Secretary General Mutula Kilonzo said.
ODM-Kenya Secretary General Mutula Kilonzo is flanked by members of the National Executive Council during the unveiling of a new party logo and colours (inset). [PHOTO: VITALIS KIMUTAI/STANDARD] READ MOREWho will not get old? Junet defends Oburu amid ODM leadership wrangles Realignment fear looms as ODM-UDA deal inches closer |
Mutula said party members had been involved in picking the new colours and symbol. He noted that the party "lost a lot of votes during the last poll as a result of confusion" and a similar scenario would not occur in the future.
Rainy season
"During rainy and sunny season, people use umbrellas for cover while those driving use wipers on their vehicles," Mutula said.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka attended the meeting at party headquarters in Nairobi where the decision was made, but left before the NEC members addressed a news conference.
ODM-Kenya MPs Johnstone Muthama, Itwiku Mbai and Peter Kiilu, Executive Director Brigadier (rtd) Henry Rop, Jeniffer Masis, Sammy Seronei and Mary Kirika, among others, attended the meeting.
The officials announced the VP had been given the mandate by the top party organ to set up his 2012 presidential campaign secretariat.
They said Musyoka would remain the party’s presidential candidate in 2012, and that he would be hitting the campaign trail at the right time.
The party also dismissed rumours that the party had not complied with the requirements on the use of State funds. "ODM-Kenya has complied with the Political Parties Act by submitting its audited books of accounts to the Auditor General as required by law," they said.
Meanwhile, Mutula has backed the establishment of three different commissions to deal with matters previously under the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
