ODM rivalry in Kisii escalates
Officials of the Orange Democratic Movement restrain Kitutu Chache South parliamentary aspirant Samwel Omwando (in blue suit) from confronting the constituency's incumbent Member of Parliament Richard Onyonka at Kisii Sports Club shortly after the party's leader Raila Odinga had arrived on January 19, 2017. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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Mr Odinga was in the county, regarded as a swing vote region for both the Opposition and Jubilee, to deal with acrimony in the party when the political differences between Kitutu Chache North MP Richard Onyonka and his fierce rival Samuel Omwando played out in the open.
Mr Onyonka had until the recent past been hobnobbing with the Jubilee administration after denouncing ODM but has beaten a hasty retreat and trooped back to the Orange party.
The political wrangles in Kisii ODM ranks escalated last week after parliamentary aspirants came to blows right in front of party leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Odinga was in the county, regarded as a swing vote region for both the Opposition and Jubilee, to deal with acrimony in the party when the political differences between Kitutu Chache North MP Richard Onyonka and his fierce rival Samuel Omwando played out in the open.
Mr Onyonka had until the recent past been hobnobbing with the Jubilee administration after denouncing ODM but has beaten a hasty retreat and trooped back to the Orange party.
The two political rivals exchanged blows at the Kisii Sports Club where Mr Odinga and Kisii Governor James Ongwae, the party’s de facto leader in the county, and other ODM grassroots leaders were scheduled to take lunch.
Earlier outside the venue, Mr Onyonka had come face to face with rowdy boda boda riders who confronted him over his recent dalliance with the Jubilee Party.
Dozens of youths booed him, demanding that he returns to the Jubilee Party and leave ODM to Mr Omwando, an incident Mr Onyonka squarely blamed on his rival.
An angry Onyonka eventually caught up with Mr Omwando at the sports club and charged at him, leading to the exchange of blows as Mr Odinga and Mr Ongwae watched in dismay.
The Onyonka-Omwando rivalry is not new.
BRIEFLY DEFECTED
In 2013, the party leadership handed the ticket to Mr Omwando after Mr Onyonka briefly defected to another party and skipped the party’s primaries. He, however, managed to grab the ticket ahead of the March 4 General Election in unclear circumstances, to the disappointment of Mr Omwando.
Mr Onyonka is one of the ODM leaders from the region who had denounced the party and fraternised with Jubilee Party. Others include Kisii senator Chris Obure and Bomachoge Chache MP Simon Ogari.
Mr Odinga was in Kisii as part of his ongoing tours to various opposition strongholds to urge supporters to register as voters.
While in Kisii, Mr Odinga also met a group of aspirants at Kisii Sports Club and charged them to remain steadfast in ODM.
In his speech, Mr Odinga read the riot act to party members bent on causing wrangles within the party.
He said wrangles would only derail the coalition’s “grand march” to State House.
“Incessant infighting will only expose us to ridicule from our opponents. There should absolutely be no enmity among members who have a common enemy,” he said.
He said defectors from other parties should be welcomed and be made to feel part of the larger ODM fraternity.
“Our common enemy is Jubilee and our attention should be focused on dislodging them from power,” added Mr Odinga who also said he will be directing all resources to ensure the National Super Alliance is victorious come August 8.
Mr Odinga assured the aspirants that the party’s primaries would be free and fair.
