Raila in tight spot as governor hopefuls ‘not ready for primaries’

ODM leader Raila Odinga shakes hands as a sign of peace with the three Azimio la Umoja governorship aspirants before a rally at the KCB grounds in Kajiado. [Perterson Githaiga, Standard]

Political rivals eyeing the Kajiado governor seat under Azimio la Umoja are disrupting ODM leader Raila Odinga’s plans as he seeks to stem a fallout that could hurt his support base. 

Last week, Raila landed in Kajiado townfor marathon meetings with a section of the clergy and opinion leaders.

Tension characterised the meetings, which could be a make or break for the Azimio La Umoja plan to capture all key seats in the region.

Raila first met clerics and political leaders at Bush Camp and thereafter addressed a rally at KCB Grounds.

Former Governor David Nkedianye and his ally Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchory said they were not ready to be subjected to party primaries.

The supremacy battle pitting Governor Joseph Lenku and Nkedianye spilled over during Raila’s KCB rally.

A group of youths shouted down the former governor and his running mate Kajiado North MP Joseph Maje, which did not go down well with Memusi, who was the master of ceremonies.

He said: “Tuna jua pesa imetembea sana hapa ili vijana wakemee wale wengine, lakini sisi hatutishiki (We are aware that money has been distributed to the youth so that they can shout down some of us, but we will not be intimidated.”

The Kajiado Central MP and Nkedianye said ODM and Jubilee should be allowed to field candidates independently.

“I pray to the party to allow affiliate parties to have their own candidates but still support Raila for the presidency. I want to see Nkedianye’s supporters and those of Governor Lenku vote for Raila but choose their favourite governor,” Memusi said.

The former governor has been holding ODM caucuses and is adamant that the party should field candidates. His campaign merchandise has ODM and Jubilee Party colours and symbols.

“Today, our campaign materials have been destroyed by your opponents. Our stand is that we will not have an Azimio La Umoja candidate for the governor seat.

“Both ODM and Jubilee will have to conduct their primaries separately,” Nkedianye told The Standard shortly after the meeting.

But Lenku opposed calls to have Azimio affiliate parties field candidates independently, saying Nkedianye, Memusi and Manje are “not alive to the new realities of coalition building”.

County leaders led by the governor and his allies in the assembly termed the opposition to field joint candidates under Azimio demeaning to the “principles of the Handshake”.

Lenku said leaders who enjoyed direct nomination in past elections are afraid of primaries because they have lost their perceived popularity.

Speaking at a meeting in Dalalekutuk last month, Memusi urged Raila not to subject ODM candidates to nominations. “ODM has structures and intelligence to know the popular candidates instead of subjecting us to nominations,” he said.

Lenku and former Olkejuado County Council chairman Tarayia ole Kores, who is also eyeing the governor position, called for joint candidates under Azimio. He said it is the only way they can create a formidable force to face off with United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“We cannot afford to split a single vote from the Azimio family. Remember we have a bigger battle from our UDA rivals. Having affiliate parties field candidates defeats the whole purpose of the Handshake,” the governor said.

At the Kajiado rally, Lenku told Raila not to allow merchants of divisive politics to derail Azimio’s unity.

“If one is popular, why do they fear nominations? We have so many candidates interested in the Azimio ticket,” he said.

Kores said: “Let us not be blinded by one seat at the expense of everyone of us. UDA is marshaling its troops and we will allow them to get a through pass with our disunity.”