Jubilee, ODM eye joint campaigns as Nyong’o is endorsed

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign team has planned a joint robust drive with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party to expand his support ahead of the August polls.

The revelations came as the ODM and DAP-K leaders pitched tent in Kisumu and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi’s Vihiga County yesterday in a bid to lock out the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and ensure Raila garners most of the votes in the region in the election.

In Kisumu, controversy however surrounds the impending ODM primaries after delegates drawn from all the seven sub-counties endorsed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o for another term, drawing protests from his opponents.

They claimed that Nyong’o had performed well and deserved to continue leading the devolved unit.

“We have resolved to support the executive’s manifesto and support his reelection bid,” said Owili.

The leaders claimed that Nyong’o’s development agenda resonates with the agenda of the Orange party and praised him for taking steps to implement projects in Kisumu.

The delegates also vowed to focus on drumming up support for the Azimio la Umoja movement and ensure that Raila clinches the presidency with a landslide.

Moments after Nyongo’s endorsement, his opponents eyeing to replace him termed the event as a “sideshow” and vowed to rally their own delegates next week.

Meanwhile, Oparanya said the ODM/Jubilee campaign plans are part of a wider scheme to rally support from Kenyans to back Raila’s fifth stab at the presidency with an aim of ensuring he wins with a landslide.

Raila’s party has prioritized coalitions and has rolled out a multi-faceted campaign team across the country drawn from different parties to mobilize support for the ODM chief.

They are also focused to make a major political statement with their Handshake partners from Jubilee by conducting joint campaigns after their National Delegates Conferences (NDCs) this week.

And although some members of the Jubilee have been conducting joint campaigns with Raila’s outfit under the Azimio la Umoja movement, The Standard has established that the next few days are going to usher in a new vigorous campaign strategy.

According to sources, the fresh strategy entails joint mega rallies with a rejuvenated Jubilee which is set to usher in new faces in the drive to market Raila as the party’s choice for the presidency.

This came to the fore during an ODM delegates meeting in Kisumu where Raila’s foot soldiers expressed optimism that their campaign card with Jubilee would be a game-changer.

The first mega rally will take place in Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi on Sunday with organizers keen to use the rally to make a statement to their opponent in the Kenya Kwanza coalition led by Deputy President William Ruto of their resolve to ensure Raila clinches the seat.

Oparanya said the meeting will bring together leaders from Jubilee and ODM where they will rally Kenyans to support their endorsement of Raila’s presidential bid.