The United
Opposition is moving aggressively to capitalise on deepening divisions in ODM,
targeting disgruntled figures as part of a wider strategy to broaden its
political base.
The bloc, led by
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is
openly courting senior ODM rebels in a coordinated effort that signals a new
political approach.
The clearest sign of
this offensive came last Sunday, when Kalonzo and Gachagua publicly invited ODM
secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to join the
United Opposition ranks.
“Babu, if you are
chased from ODM, come to DCP. If you feel uncomfortable, go to Wiper, our
partner. Once President William buys ODM, he doesn’t want Sifuna there,”
Gachagua said.
Kalonzo, speaking at
the same forum, said he sees ODM joining them “in a big way”.
“We have progressive
voices like Senator Sifuna and Babu Owino,” he said.
“We are all going to
get together and when that happens, you will thank Riggy G because that is the
kind of leadership we want, where you don’t hide things in the jacket. You have
to place it on the table.
“We are going to put
things on the table for Kenyans to know that the time for real change is now.”
Notably, Sifuna’s
consistent criticism of President William Ruto and the broad-based arrangement
ODM is in does not sit well with senior party officials, fuelling talk that the
long-serving secretary general might be pushed out of the party.
On the other hand,
Babu, who has on several instances fallen short of endorsing Kalonzo, has
publicly registered fears that ODM will not give him the ticket to run for
Nairobi governor.
He believes the
broad-based government will back the incumbent, Johnson Sakaja who does not see
eye-to-eye with Gachagua.
The invitations
portrayed Sifuna and Babu as natural allies already aligned with opposition
positions in their criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
Political analysts
opine that while the opposition might just be making overtures to ODM, the
internal quarrels have created fertile ground for poaching.
Political
commentator Denis Mwangi says the ODM rebels might as well consider other
options for political survival due to expulsion or rejection fears.
“Take, for instance,
Babu Owino. He has made it clear that he wants to be the governor of Nairobi,”
he said.
“If the shouting
outside here is anything to go by, he seems to have a head start. He is
exerting a lot of pressure to create his space and when he doesn’t succeed in
ODM, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t move to Wiper, which is already a
popular party in Nairobi.”
Babu Owino is on
record defending his relationship with opposition figures, particularly Kalonzo
and PLP leader Martha Karua.
In a radio
interview, the legislator argued that Kalonzo backed Raila Odinga in 2013
through 2022, and that Karua was Raila’s running mate in 2022, thus there is
nothing wrong with him affiliating with them.
Other than Babu
Owino, other ODM legislators appear to be drifting away from ODM.
Saboti MP Caleb
Amisi, for instance, has increasingly adopted the tone and positioning of a
United Opposition firebrand, criticising the Kenya Kwanza government as well as
the broad-based arrangement.
Following the
teargassing of Gachagua at a church, which the former DP blamed on the
government, Amisi criticised the incident, terming it cowardice.
He also said that
from the outcome of the recent by-elections, signs are clear that the Kenya
Kwanza government will be “wantam, with a bigger margin than I expected”.
“How can Wetang’ula
lose in his own ward? [DP Kithure] Kindiki is struggling to get an MP with a
small margin. In Malava, UDA wins with only 500 votes even after millions were
poured. Musalia is basically a spent force,” he said.
Kitutu Chache South
MP Anthony Kibagendi, though elected on an ODM ticket, is now politically
aligned with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, a senior figure in the United
Opposition.
Kibagendi has been
visible at United Opposition functions and has defended it against the Ruto
administration.
An MP allied to
Gachagua told the Star that while they are not only focused on ODM, the United
Opposition is going all out to secure more support.
On Thursday ,
Matiang’i and PLP leader Martha Karua held a meeting of the United Opposition
and were joined by Peter Munya (PNU), former Treasury CS Ukur Yatani (UPIA),
Lenny Kivuti (Devolution Empowerment Party) and James Magara (People's
Democratic Party).
“Our deliberations
focused on the modalities of strengthening the Opposition in line with our
steadfast mission to restore good leadership in our country,” Matiang’i said.
The MP, who is not
allowed to speak on behalf on the camp, added that the United Opposition plans
to target regions where ODM has historically enjoyed strong support but where
internal dissatisfaction is now rising.
These include Nairobi, parts of Western Kenya, Northeastern and Kisii.
