Squabbles among Kisii leaders give ODM headache

ODM is facing an acid test in Kisii as the general election draws near.

Already, sharp divisions in its regional leadership are threatening to tear it apart, barely 10 months to the polls.

At the heart of the conflict is Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, who is seeking to succeed Governor James Ongwae.

For weeks now, Arati has been faulted for moving to set up party offices in ‘blatant disregard for the party structures’.

Ongwae, Woman Representative Janet Ongera and Senator Sam Ongeri say Arati is out to undermine the existing party leadership.

 “How else can we say of his behaviour? Even a guest visiting some home cannot just rush to any seat, he must wait to be shown where to sit by the host,” Ongwae said.

“If all aspirants joining the party go to every nook and cranny to set up offices, then we are lost as a party,” Governor Ongwae told a gathering of ODM leaders in Kisii on Wednesday this week.

Arati has already opened seven ODM party offices in several parts of the county.

Fighting back, Arati on Sunday described the three as chinkondi, a term loosely translated to mean a bunch of jokers.

“This is why I refer to them as chinkondi. We can’t move forward to the polls with a lazy team who have reduced the party to a boardroom issue,” Arati said.

He said the party relies on a handful of ward reps and one MP, aside from Ongwae, Ongeri and Ongera.

“This is a pity. I'm out to change this situation. I'm not out to fight anybody but I am here to put things in order,” Arati told the Star.

He said due to the lethargy by the same complaining leaders, the party has lost its ‘salt and thus the need to rejuvenate it'.

Arati said ODM’s popularity has been waning due to poor leadership.

“You can all agree that this is not the way to go if we are to be felt as a party. ODM should be made our people’s party of choice. We cannot allow chikondi to spoil it at a critical time like this,” he told journalists at his Motonto home in Bobasi.

But Ongwae yesterday termed the allegations by the legislator as untrue.

“If there are people doing more for the party, then it is us, not him. In any case, he is now causing a Babylon within the party because he is ignoring the party structures,” the governor said.

Ongeri and Ongera said Arati is out of order.

“He cannot come all the way from Nairobi and begin to lecture us on how to run the party. If he has any political ambition within the party, then good behaviour dictates that he should show some level of respect to those in leadership, not going round villages abusing them,” Ongera said.

The duo has already announced their bid to succeed Ongwae on the ODM party ticket.

They will, however, have to fight for it during nominations with Arati.

Ongwae said the nominations would be free and fair despite the wrangles.

“There should be no qualms over nominations. Nominations shall be above the bar. We are only asking for order. We should project ourselves as a party of choice to anybody seeking an elective seat in Kisii,” he said.

For now, it is not clear if Arati’s move to establish more party offices across the subcounties has ODM leader Raila Odinga’s blessings.

On Sunday, Arati said nothing will stop him from selling the party in Kisii.

“I cannot sit pretty when we have nobody following us. A party draws its strength from the members who we are reaching out to. Someone tell those fighting me that I am not going to slow down soon,” he said.

The race for Kisii governorship has attracted seven aspirants.

Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, who also appears keen to succeed his boss on the UDA party ticket, has told Arati off over his chinkondi remarks.

Others who have shown interest in the seat include Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu, and former South Mugirango MPs Manson Nyamweya and Omingo Magara.

Although Roads Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure has not come into the open to declare his interest, he is said to be quietly planning to throw his hat in the ring.

While Simba Arati appears to be testing a rapport with Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka, it is too early to say if he may pick him as his running mate.

Sources close to Onyonka say he may go for senator's seat.

Edited by A.N