Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga met with Western Kenya leaders on Tuesday amid divisions ahead of the upcoming elections set for November 27, 2024.
Odinga hosted a dinner meeting with elected ODM leaders from the region at a Nairobi hotel, where he emphasized the importance of unity and leadership within the party.
He urged the leaders to work together to strengthen ODM’s presence in Western Kenya.
While advocating for peaceful elections, Odinga cautioned the leaders against unnecessary divisions among their supporters.
Instead, he called on them to unite their followers and ensure the party’s continued success in the region.
“The elections should be peaceful,” he told Kakamega Branch Chairman Governor Fernandes Barasa, his Busia counterpart Governor Paul Otuoma, and Members of Parliament from across the region.
Meanwhile, with just seven days remaining to the party grassroots elections, divisions among some of the party’s elected leaders in Migori County are becoming more apparent, raising concerns that the exercise may be jeopardized.
Nyatike Constituency Member of Parliament Tom Mboya Odege, notably absent from a recent delegates’ meeting organized by Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, has expressed frustration over the lack of unity among elected leaders in the region.
According to Odege, there has been a failure among the county’s leaders to work cohesively to strengthen the party.
He criticized the ODM party’s local officials for their poor communication, which resulted in several key figures missing the important meeting.
The event, which was attended by ODM’s interim leader, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o, and the party’s national chairperson, Gladys Wanga, was still considered a success by the party leadership.
During her address, Wanga downplayed the visible divisions within the party, urging members to focus on registering more members in the upcoming voter drive. She emphasized that the party’s numerical strength would be crucial in the 2027 general elections.
Wanga also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to victory, either as a standalone entity or through a coalition with other parties.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko and Kuria West MP Mathias Robby echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of ensuring ODM remains a key player in the next government.
Ayacko pointed out that no political party in the country would be able to govern without ODM’s support, citing the party’s consistent role in shaping national politics despite its presidential election losses in recent years.
The leaders also assured ODM members that the upcoming elections, scheduled for 27th November 2024, would be free and fair.
Wanga urged all party members to embrace peace and ensure a smooth electoral process.
