ODM boss Raila Odinga hopes to make at least 30 governors backing his Azimo La Umoja the linchpins of his presidential campaigns, expanding his State House dream team.
Raila has convened high-level talks with the governors today in Naivasha to craft a deal and spell out their role in his presidential campaigns.
Raila, who is taking a fifth stab at the presidency, is determined to pull all stops to stitch together an elaborate and well-coordinated campaign machine.
The second window for fresh voter-registration opens today and the meeting will also be used strategise on how to net eligible voters especially in Azimio strongholds.
Deputy President William Ruto is Raila’s main opponent in the State House battle to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 9, General Election.
The Naivasha meeting would be the inaugural political engagement between Raila and the county bosses as he seeks to hand them a bigger role in the grassroots management of his presidential campaigns.
It emerged that Raila could use the session to broaden his campaign board to include more governors, tapping on their grassroots influence, support and resources to propel his State House bid.
The Star has established that the crucial meeting will also be attended by some members of Raila’s campaign board and select strategists bolstering his presidential bid.
On Sunday, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, a member of the Raila presidential campaign board, confirmed the crucial meeting.
"The meeting will be at Enashipai and will bring together all the governors supporting the Azimio La Umoja across the country,” Oparanya said.
The county boss lifted the lid on the details of the all-important session, saying it is meant to interface governors in Raila’s campaigns to ensure they play a key role.
“You know governors have their own structures in their own counties, we are going to see how we shall make them play a key role in Raila’s presidential campaigns,” the ODM deputy party leader said.
The governor said that county bosses have a role to play in Raila's campaigns because they are grassroots leaders who know issues affecting the people.
"There is a need to build synergy and harness the capacity that we need to propel our presidential candidate to State House," he said.
The Star learnt that the meeting will craft guidelines on the management of presidential campaigns at the grassroots to avoid nasty tussles among aspirants.
The battle for tickets is proving to be a major challenge within the ODM camp with a rally in Taita Taveta on Friday almost ending in chaos as aspirants battled for the microphone.
This forced Raila to bar aspirants and incumbent leaders from addressing the Thika rally on Saturday following information that politicians had mobilised crowds to cheer and jeer others.
Only Governor James Nyoro and Kiambu Town MP Jude Njomo spoke before Raila made his speech.
On Sunday, Nyoro who hosted Raila in his Kiambu backyard on Saturday, said county chiefs backing Azimio La Umoja will give their all to ensure Raila wins the presidency.
“Baba started the journey to State House in Kiambu on Saturday and as governors we shall be at the front line marketing our presidential candidate,” Nyoro said.
With massive resources at their disposal, governors are mini-presidents in their regions heading their own 47 governments with fully fledged structures and staff.
They will therefore be very instrumental in not just political mobilisation but also resources mobilisation with the August general election expected to be the most expensive in the country's history.
Political analyst Martin Andati argues that support by elected leaders would count “but having more governors comes with advantages.”
“They can put some money in one’s campaign. They have county structures. Governors manage billions of shillings. County structures are also elaborate in terms of mobilisation,” he said.
Previously, Ruto's Tangatanga wing has accused governors of being coerced to support Raila and the Azimio La Umoja bandwagon to avoid being prosecuted for massive graft at the counties.
However, Azimio county chiefs have insisted that they are backing Raila because of his vision for the country and his roadmap that offers peace and stability after polls.
ODM national chairman John Mbadi said Raila will be meeting the governors to get a 'feel" of the local issues which he would address in his campaigns.
"They are leaders who interact with wananchi at the local level. Raila would want to understand the issues at the grassroots and how to approach them," the National Assembly Minority Leader said.
Last December's appointment of Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi as the chairperson of Raila’s presidential campaign board affirmed the influence governors will have in propelling Raila’s State House bid.
Kisii Governor James Ongwae, Oparanya and Nakuru’s Lee Kinyanjui are the only governors who sit at Raila’s presidential campaign board.
An analysis by the Star reveals that Raila commands the support of the majority of the country’s 47 governors as opposed to Ruto.
In Uhuru’s Mt Kenya region, for instance, Raila enjoys the support of all the county bosses save for Nyeri’s Mutahi Kahiga and Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga.
Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria is seeking the presidency but is said to be aligned to the Azimio bandwagon.
Other governors supporting Azimio La Umoja include Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), James Nyoro (Kiambu), Martin Wambora (Embu), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Meru’s Kiraitu Murungi.
Others are Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Ali Korane (Garissa), John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Ann Kananu (Nairobi), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta), Godhana Dhadho (Tana River) and Kajiado’s Joseph Lenku.
Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Fahim Twaha (Lamu), Amason Kingi (Kiilifi), Ahmed Muktar (Wajir), Mohamed Kuti (Isiolo), Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay) and Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) support Azimio.
Since declaring his presidential bid on December 10, Raila’s campaign has been burning the midnight oil, assembling powerful, well-respected professionals who will manage his presidential campaign.
Raila’s team has Muriithi, retired President Mwai Kibaki’s nephew, and former KRA member in charge of domestic taxes, Elizabeth Meyo, who is the chief executive officer of the secretariat.
With governors on board, Raila’s team is planning to mount serious presidential campaigns with meticulous and professional organisation.
The governors are also important as they will give Raila's presidential politburo a national face as he shakes off the tag of over-dependence on members of his Luo community.
In Raila’s past four presidential bids, his campaign machine has largely consisted of strategists and managers from Western Kenya.
In 2013 his campaign was driven by Caroli Omondi alongside Eliud Owalo.
In 2017, lawyer Willis Otieno was the campaign manager with ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi as the chairman of the Nasa National Campaign Committee.
Governors have previously sought to affirm their influence in their counties, putting up spirited fights during by-elections as they asserted their dominance.
In the Bonchari by-election last year, Ongwae was instrumental in the victory of Parvel Oimeke who trounced a state-backed candidate Zepedeo Opore.
The governor also successfully defended the Kiamokama and Nyacheki ward seats on the ODM ticket in recent by-elections.
At the Coast, Joho and Kingi fought hard in the Msambweni by-election but narrowly lost to Ruto-backed independent candidate Faisal Bader won.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who is allied to Ruto, was at the forefront in campaigning for Faisal.
