Statement by Raila Secretariat on TNA’s Sinister Violent Schemes

1. This Secretariat would like to call the attention of peace loving Kenyans to sinister motives by the National Alliance (TNA) party to foment and execute political violence and blame it on our Presidential Candidate’s followers.
2. We especially want to caution Kenyans not to be drawn into TNA instigated violence during a football match between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia FC in Nairobi, tomorrow Saturday 22 September.
3. In the recent past, the leadership of TNA has bent backwards over to sponsor and plant into the Kenyan national psyche the engineered perception of ODM as a “violent fraternity.” The architects of this ploy are a very senior member of the party, a Member of Parliament representing a Nairobi Constituency and a New Ford Kenya member of UDF.
4. Part of this scheme has manifested in the hiring of performers, who pretended to be harassing one Miguna Miguna on the occasion of “publicizing” his book in various towns in Kenya. A few moments after the so-called “goons” had affected to bully Miguna, they would be seen on TV cameras buoyantly swaggering away with Miguna, celebrating their performance, in the full glare of the Kenya Police.
5. It is instructive that the script was planned to give Miguna a heroic welcome in TNA strongholds, “to show how democratic” and “peace loving” TNA supporters are.
6. In the just concluded by-elections, there were TNA sponsored violent dramas in ODM strongholds. TNA has since been eloquently broadcasting falsehoods about these sponsored dramas of violence, especially in TNA owned media.
7. A ploy in the offing is to disrupt a football match between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia Football Clubs this weekend. The stage has is fully set for TNA funded violence. This sinister plan seeks not only to cast a section of the ODM supporters as violent, but also to drive a wedge between two language communities from the Lake Basin.
8. We wish to caution peace loving Kenyans and especially those who will turn out to watch the match between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia in Nairobi tomorrow not to fall for TNA’s violent tricks. We appeal to them to support their teams and to enjoy the match to hilt, knowing very well that someone wants to use this match to achieve wicked political goals.
9. At the same time, we wish to appeal to TNA’s leadership to drop their desperate and dangerous line of violent political mobilization. We wish to remind them that the country has not yet recovered from the aftermath of political violence of 2007 – 2008.

We urge TNA leaders to change to a peace agenda.

Barrack Muluka

Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat

Breaking News: Ababu and Mbadi Land Cabinet Positions

President Mwai Kibaki has made the following changes in Cabinet, following consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga:

1. Hon. Katoo Ole Metito – from Assistant Minister, Ministry of Regional Development Authority to Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security
2.  Hon. Ababu Nambwamba (New) – Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports
3.  Hon. Paul Otuoma – from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to Ministry of Local Government
4.  Hon. Alfred Khangati – from Assistant Minister, Office of the Prime Minister to Assistant Minister, Provincial Administration and Internal Security
5. Hon. John Mbadi (New) appointed Assistant Minister, Office of the Prime Minister
6. Hon. James Gesami – reinstated as Assistant Minister

PPS 20th September 2012

ODM Unveils New Election Board

PM Assures Candidates on Free and Fair Nominations

 

By Philip Etale

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has said the forthcoming ODM party primaries scheduled for the end of the year must be free, fair and transparent.

The PM said this when he inaugurated the new ODM Electoral Board that will be chaired by Col (Rtd). Henry Kathurima. He advised the new board to ensure that the nominations are of the highest standards possible.

 

Members of ODM's new National Elections Board (NEB). From left to right: James Ogundo, Dr. Joseph Misoi, Hon. Judy Pareno, PM Raila Odinga, Col. (Rtd) Dr. Henry Muthee Kathurima (new NEB chairman), Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, Beatrice Sabana, Hellen Nayuko Katangie (partly hidden) and Ibrahim Mohammed. The new board was unveiled by the Prime Minister at a breakfast function at a Nairobi hotel on the morning of Wednesday, September 19, 2012.

The PM said that ODM embodies the highest democratic ideals in the country. “Our nomination process for various electoral positions in the coming general election must therefore be flawless.”
 

He said Kenyans expect the party to be the torchbearer in democratic practice in the country. Noting that there were very few women in political leadership, the PM appealed to women to present themselves in big numbers for ODM tickets. “ODM is your party. We want to give opportunities to women and I welcome as many women as possible to seek the party ticket for the various seats available.”
 

The Premier said women are integral in the development of the party and so they should be allowed fair competition during the party primaries. He decried the use of violence against women during elections.
 

Mr. Odinga disclosed that the ODM Party Manifesto was now ready and would shortly be unveiled. He also announced that the part would convene its National Delegates Conference in a few weeks’ time.
 

On the date for the next general election, the Prime Minister was emphatic that the elections would take place on 04 March 2012, in accordance with the IEBC programme, as upheld by the courts. 

The members of the new-look National Elections Board are as follows:

1.   Cl. Rtd. Dr. Henry Kathurima – (Former Military officer) Chairman
2.   Hon. Judith Pareno - (MP- EALA) Commissioner
3.   Prof. Chaacha Nyaigoti Chacha - (Renown Scholar) Commissioner
4.   Beatrice Sabana - Commissioner
5.   Ibrahim Rashid Ahmed - Commissioner.
6.   James Ogundo - Commissioner
7.   Joseph Misoi - Commissioner.
8.   Cllr. Hellen Nayuko - Commissioner.

The Prime Minister advised the board to be impartial in the execution of their duties saying that the future and success of the party at the general election lay in their hands.

Speaking during the occasion, ODM National Chairman Mr Henry Kosgey urged the NEB members to be above reproach. “I would like to assure all our party members and those aspiring to run for various seats in the general elections that there will be no direct nomination in ODM,” said Mr. Kosgey. He emphasized that there would be no sacred cows during and after the party primaries.

The Board’s new chairman, Dr. Kathurima, assured party members and aspirants of impartial services from the board members, saying that they would like to give the best to the party. “We are up to the task and ready to deliver,” he added.

The Head of the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat, Mr. Eliud Owalo, said his team looked forward to working with the new elections board and the party national secretariat with the aim of ensuring the party objectives are achieved.

Present during the occasion were, ODM Secretary General Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, several cabinet ministers and the ODM Executive Director Ms. Janet Ong’era among others.

The writer is ODM Director of Communications

Statement by ODM Party Leader on Concluded By-Elections

I take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Augustino Neto Oyugi, the MP-elect for Ndhiwa Constituency. Your win is a testimony of the people’s faith in the reforms that our country has firmly embarked on. 

I also congratulate councilors-elect Reuben Nyangweso (Bukura Ward, Kakamega), Noor Sheikh Abdullah (Nana, Moyale), Jevis Ochieng Abuor (Wire Hill/Migwa Ward, Kasipul Kabondo), Benard Oduor Onyango (Wang’ Chieng’ Ward, Homa Bay), Eliakim Ochieng Obinju (east Kadem Ward, Migori), Margaret Akinyi Owejee (Gembe East Ward, Homa Bay), and councillor-elect for Kaliang'ombe in Kilifi, Daniel Chibule.

To our candidates who lost, I salute you for standing with the reform agenda. This is Kenya’s Moment and for sure you are on the side of history.

To our opponents who won various parliamentary and civic seats, we also congratulate you in the spirit of democracy. As I have always said, democracy does not have to be a blood sport. 

Finally, Kenya was the overall winner after these largely peaceful electoral contests.
 
Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga
ODM Party Leader 

Note: The Orange Democratic Movement will today hold a press conference on the same subject at Orange House, Kilimani, Nairobi, details which will be published here there after.

Women, Youth and the 2013 Presidential Election

According to the latest polls by three leading pollsters in Kenya – Ipsos Synnovate, Infotrak Harris and Strategic Africa, an average of 29% of Kenyan women support Raila Odinga, followed by Uhuru Kenyatta (20%) and William Ruto (12%).

So what do women want?

More than a quarter (28%) of women says the most important problem to address is: jobs. This is the top concern for only one in five men (21%). Among unmarried women, 29% say jobs are the biggest concern, followed closely by concerns about income inequality and the growing gap between rich and poor.

For women, it is the economy, stupid! And right now, Odinga holds a commanding lead among women. Close to half (47%) of all women say they trust Odinga more on the economy, compared to just 39% who trust his rivals. Among unmarried women – read youth- the margin is even wider - 57% trust Mr. Odinga more on the economy.

In a close election, where women are expected to comprise 52%  of the electorate (and unmarried women more than a third) these differences could be decisive.

So who really “loves women?!”

The candidate who understands that we must REFORM the economy to create jobs and address long-term structural economic inequality.

Whichever campaign can speak honestly and directly to these issues is likely to win over women. Right now, it is the ODM campaign that appears to grasp these underlying issues.

Reports of By-Election Arrests False - ODM

PRESS RELEASE
 

My attention has been drawn to the current reports appearing in the media to the effect that the Ndhiwa ODM Candidate Mr. Augostino Neto’s brother has been arrested in connection with electoral violence.
 

The Orange Democratic Movement – ODM has established that the claims are false and also aimed at tarnishing the name of the party. We have ascertained that none of Mr. Neto's brothers has been arrested or even involved in any act of violence in Ndhiwa.
 

It is a fact that after sensing defeat in today’s by-elections, our opponents have employed a tact which they want to achieve by spreading propaganda against our candidates with the aim of misleading the electorate and the general public.

On Saturday last week, a sms was send to people in Ndhiwa and outside the constituency through the number 0726 404422 spreading untruths about the Prime Minister’s visit to Ndhiwa. We have since reported the matter to the police for investigations.

I would like to make it clear that no amount of propaganda or defamation of the party by our opponents will stop ODM from winning the Ndhiwa and Kajiado North Parliamentary seats and all the other vacant civic seats we have fielded our candidates across the country.
 

Thank you.
 

Prof. P. Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Secretary General, ODM 

17/09/2012