Nairobi, Kenya: A meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday between ODM party leader Raila Odinga and youthful MPs from Luo Nyanza capped a flurry of consultations that sealed a deal on the forthcoming party polls. The meeting took place at a Nairobi hotel between 11am and 2pm prior to the announcement by three Luo Nyanza MPs withdrawing their candidature for posts in party polls scheduled on February 28. It was the climax of a series of meetings Raila and his close allies had with a perceived ODM breakaway faction of MPs from his Luo Nyanza backyard who had insisted on contesting the seats. The Standard established that it was after these intense negotiations that the so-called Young Turks met Raila at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday to officially communicate to him their acceptance to withdraw their candidature. MPs Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Sylvance Osele (Kasipul Kabondo), David Ochieng’ (Ugunja) and Kenneth Okoth (Kibra) were among those present at the talks with the former Prime Minister. Alongside MPs Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), John Mbadi (Suba) and Augustine Neto (Ndhiwa), the group had fashioned themselves the Young Turks agitating for change of guard in the ODM leadership. ANNOUNCED WITHDRAWAL After the meeting, the MPs headed to Parliament buildings where Obura announced his withdrawal from the race for the post of secretary-general. Obura told The Standard that he had agreed to withdraw his bid because of party interests. “I have been approached and talked to and after wide consultations and soul-searching, I have decided to step down because the party is bigger than any one of us,” said Obura. Mbadi, too, quit the contest for the position. He said his decision had been informed by the fear that the ongoing tribal debate could polarise the party. “The information in the media made Kenyans have a negative attitude to the Luo aspirants and I therefore feel that my candidature has been compromised by the wrong perception,” Mbadi said when he announced his withdrawal. Veteran politician Dalmas Otieno (Rongo MP) also threw in the towel. The hardline position taken by Luo Nyanza leaders that the region deserved key posts because it is the bedrock for the party’s support was viewed as antagonising other regions.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 00:36:34 +0000
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