Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party will target youths in membership registration drives.
Raila said earlier this year, they pushed the ODM party mass registration drives in his Nyanza backyard counties to solidify his political base before the exercise is moved nationally.
“We started at home to make sure other parties thinking they can make inroads here will soon know and test water and flour, then from next year we will move nationally because our party has a national outlook,” Raila said.
He said from January to March, 204, registration will move to the Western, Coast, Rift Valley and Mount Kenya regions before moving to other areas.
“In April, the party will have elections of new officials from polling centre units, wards and to national delegates conference,” Raila said.
He said the party has offices and officials in all counties in the country and the need to improve membership is to give youths who are newly registered as voters to join their ranks.
“To ensure our party is strong we will rejuvenate it through a membership drive targeting youths and younger generation because, in our last drive, they were not given a chance at membership,” he said.
He said the party targets the youth group to “teach them our ideology, what are the party ideals so that our manifestos are passed to next generation”.
He said after the talks between the government and the opposition, they outlined their demands to have the high cost of living reduced by having taxes and levies reduced on food items and fuel which was ignored.
“As opposition, we will keep the government in check to lower the high cost of living which is their responsibility. We gave our recommendations and they said they will tackle it at their own time and means,” Odinga said.
He said calls to reduce the high cost of living will still be the main agenda of the opposition party.
He was speaking when he was hosted by Awendo MP Walter Owino to meet elders from the constituency, be a guest at Awendo NG-CDF games and hold a joint rally with other party leaders in Awendo town.
Other leaders who attended included Migori governor Ochillo Ayacko, Migori senator Eddy Oketch, Suna West MP Peter Masara, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, Nyatike MP Tom Odege, Migori speaker Tom Odege among other leaders.
“We need to maintain close relations with youths to bolster our ranks as the ODM party, they will be our backbone as we seek to change the country’s political agenda,” Owino said.
Masara said as a party and Nyanza region, they will only engage the government of President William Ruto through Odinga and the party.
“We have party leaders who have decided to rebel against the party by directly working with government and sponsoring those opposing us in our backyard, we will not give them time,” Masara said.
