Oburu versus Winnie: Winnie stages parallel Kamukunji rally as supporters urge her to take charge of ODM

The simmering row in ODM exploded yesterday as Winnie Odinga staged a parallel rally at Kibra’s historic Kamukunji grounds, days after a similar event led by party leader Oburu Odinga at the same venue.

Winnie’s rally, held as Oburu criss-crossed Kakamega county for the party’s ‘Linda Ground’ campaign, laid bare deepening divisions over ODM’s direction and its emerging broad-based political arrangements.

Winnie, wearing a Raila-branded t-shirt and trademark cap, said she is ready for the delegates' conference where the party will elect its leaders.

“Today, we have come back home. This is a place we have come all our lives. I would like to apologise for taking so long to come back,” she told the congregants.

At Kamukunji, Winnie supporters urged her to take charge of ODM and bring unity to the increasingly fractured party.

“ODM has been in existence for the last 20 years, we cannot afford two factions of ODM. We want one united outfit Winnie takes charge and leads the young people to make odm one unified outfit,” a man only identified as Edward aka Mandevu said.

Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto gave Oburu two weeks to include Winnie at the leadership of the party.

"Mtoto ya simba ni simba (a cub is also a lion). They should give us way forward, we are calling the party leader to see how to accommodate Winnie up there in the party," Ogeto said.

Addressing supporters, Winnie struck a defiant tone, calling for a return to the party’s reformist roots and greater inclusion of the youth in decision-making.

The East Africa Legislative Assembly MP said some top ODM leaders have hijacked the party and trying to push them aside. 

Those leaders, she added, were never seen on the streets during the numerous struggles.

"There are people who are speaking now, I didn’t see them on the streets," Winnie said.

In what appears to be a warning shot to the party's leadership, she said the upcoming national delegates conference will settle the party's leadership squabbles once and for all.

"The coming NDC will be fire," she said, even as she passed greeting from ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

Her move is widely interpreted as a direct challenge to the party’s top leadership and a signal that dissenting voices are unwilling to be silenced.

The young firebrand has repeatedly questioned Oburu’s capacity to steer the party through the delicate, broad-based negotiations.

Winnie also dismissed utterances by a section of Oburu's allies who had warned against yesterday’s parallel rally.

"I heard some people saying we cannot come to Kibera, tell them I am here in the bedroom," Winnie said amid chants from supporters.

Last week, Oburu camp warned against the meeting saying it was meant to undermine the party leader.

Speaking during their Kamukunji rally last week, MPs George Aladwa (Makadara) and TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka) declared they will not allow such rallies.

“We want to confirm that the decision of the Central Committee is the best decision we have been waiting for. Anyone who will come here on Sunday (yesterday), we will not allow,” Kajwang’ said.

“As the leadership of Nairobi, we do not approve any meeting here,” Aladwa added.

Oburu, meanwhile, used his Kakamega tour to rally western Kenya leaders and solidify support for the party’s current strategy, insisting that ODM must protect its base while navigating new political realities.

The party leader was accompanied by ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, deputy party leader Simba Arati, Governors Paul Otuoma (Busia) and Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), National Assembly minority leader Junet Mohammed and Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.

The Siaya senator, however, came face-to-face with division in Kakamega after two parallel factions laid claim to the county’s party leadership and organised parallel meetings.

One faction, led by Governor Fernandes Barasa, staged a delegates meeting at Kakamega town while the other team, led by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, hosted a parallel delegates conference at Mabole Primary School in Mumias.

The two leaders are claiming the county’s ODM chairmanship even though the party declared Barasa duly elected during last year’s grassroots elections.

Oburu was forced to attend both events as leaders from Western demanded that the party should pronounce itself on the county leadership.

“Today we have the party leader, the executive Director and the director of elections, telling you Barasa is the chairman,” Otuoma said.

Barasa said that the issue of elections was concluded last September and he is rightfully in office.

“In Kakamega, ODM has only one chairman. On September 1, the people elected me as the chairman,” he added.

Weighing on the Kakamega split, Junet, who is the ODM’s director of elections, confirmed Barasa was rightfully elected.

“In ODM, I am the one responsible for grassroots elections, according to the party’s book the chairman is Fernandes Barasa. That is the position.

“Though there are people who have lodged disputes, but I am talking based on what is currently in our records unless the petition is decided and a new direction is given,” he said.

Oburu, on his part, called for a truce, saying he has mandated Oparanya to bring the two sides together.

“ODM must be one in Kakamega. I landed in the other meeting, and they told me they are the genuine delegates, but I have learnt these are the party delegates. I have talked to Oparanya to help bring this to an end,” said.