ODM chief Chief Raila Odinga is set for an aggressive two-day vote hunt in three Mount Kenya East counties hosted by the region's governors.
The Star has established that Raila begins an elaborate tour of Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties beginning on Monday.
The ODM leader will be received by Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Embu’s Martin Wambora who is also chairman of the Council of Governors as well as Tharaka Nithi’s Muthomi Njuki.
Insiders said that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, a close ally of Raila, could skip the visit, because of his political differences with Kiraitu.
The new realignments could jolt Deputy President William Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi who are also eying the region's votes.
According to the plan, Raila on Monday will make stops in Maua, Laare and Maili Tatu and close the day with a political rally in Meru town.
On Tuesday, the former Prime Minister will make a stop in Nkubu, thenhead to Chuka for the Mt Kenya East “Azimio La Umoja”.
This meeting would be hosted by Njuki who was initially seen to be gravitating towards Ruto.
After the meeting, the former PM is expected to address a series of meetings in Runyenjes, Embu town, and is tentatively scheduled for a dinner hosted by Governor Wambora.
“We are hosting him [Raila] with the governors. We expect a warm reception for the former prime minister. He has not been here for a while,” Igembe North MP Maoka Maore, who is part of the coordinating team, told the Star.
In an interview with the Star, Wambora confirmed that he would indeed join the former PM on Tuesday, citing some COG engagement on Monday.
“I had organsized a meeting of the Council of Governors. I will join the team on Tuesday in Chuka and host the Prime Minister in Embu,” Wambora confirmed.
So far, Raila has the backing of close to 26 governors across the country against Ruto’s 10. The political stand of many other governors remains unknown.
On Sunday, Wambora said he advised Raila’s team to engage governors, describing them as “steady and reliable”.
“Once we [governors] support, we don’t look back. It was my advice even to the president and Raila so we had to take the route of governors. They are steady they are reliable,” the Embu county chief told the Star.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and Nominated MP Maina Kamanda are expected to accompany Raila on the tour.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega, a linchpin in the Raila campaign machine, expressing confidence the ODM leader would eventually win the coveted Mt Kenya vote.
“Baba in the past would not convene any audience in Central but now he is having an audience. It is a big plus,” Kega said.
“He has achieved one thing, which is penetrating the mountain that was perceived to be someone else’s. We are doing extremely well. Personally, I am happy. I am on the ground and I know Raila will be able to get the mountain,” the Budget committee chairman added.
He said polls on the fortunes of Ruto were falling, adding that the same has added impetus to their campaign.
“He [Ruto] started at 90 per cent. The other day you [The Star] said he is now at 57 per cent. We believe Baba is doing 30 per cent and will get better in the next two weeks,” Kega stated.
Raila, 76, has been combing various counties, holding rallies across the country.
Last week he toured Lodwar, Isiolo, Eldoret, Nakuru, Nyahururu, Naivasha and Kamega.
He is expected to head to Ukambani after Mt Kenya East, then \ tour Mt Kenya West again before the final Azimio la Umoja meeting in Nairobi.
In a sneak peak of what is expected in Monday's meeting, lawyer Mugambi Imanyara, a close Kiraitu ally, said they would use the meeting to listen to Raila’s agenda.
“I don’t think tomorrow is a day of endorsement but a day to hear what he [Raila] has to offer our region if we were to support him to become the president in 2022. That for us is a serious conversation that we must engage in,” Imanyara said.
However, he said Raila is the most experienced, has a good track record of serving the public for many years. He said Raila has been on he frontline fighting for reforms and democracy in the country…including the BBI which we expect him to continue with after 2022,” Imanyara said.
He is the new secretary Ggeneral for Devolution Empowerment Party, a new outfit associated with Kiraitu and a section of Mt Kenya East bigwigs.
“We would also like his commitment on whether he will pursue that dream of BBI. We are keen to ensure the BBI is implemented within a short period after 2022,” Imanyara added.
However, it has emerged that Munya whose PNU is set for a political pact with ODM may skip the tour.
EALA MP Mpuru Aburi, a close ally to the CS, said they may not want to share a podium with Kiraitu.
He said they would organise their own meeting to host Raila.
“We have no problem with Raila but where Kiraitu is, we may not go. We will slam the brakes on this and plan our own tour for Raila. We don’t want to cause shameful scenes,” the former MP said.
On Saturday, supporters of Isiolo governor Mohamed Kuti clashed with those of his predecessor Godana Doyo.
Aburi who is the NOPEU party leader said, “Because Kiraitu is the one planning this, there is no point of spoiling Raila’s event.”
Aburi said that despite the prevailing events, Munya was in the ODM leader’s camp 100 per cent, adding that only the CS has been campaigning for Raila in the region.
“We have explained to Raila the same. We don’t want to bring shame and disrepute to the meeting. PNU and NOPEU will not participate in the Raila meeting. We will plan ours since this is Kiraitu’s.”
(Edited by V. Graham)
