ODM Still Strong Despite Last Week's By-Elections Humiliation, Raila Says
Opposition leader Raila Odinga says the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is still strong despite suffering huge defeat in two by-elections last week.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Monday, Odinga has downplayed the losses and dismissed claims that ODM has lost ground.
Odinga says the setback in the two mini-elections held last Friday "is not a big deal."
“Elections are won or lost… So the fact that someone has lost an election it’s not a big deal. It's not a big issue,” says Odinga.
In the Embakasi South by-election, Wiper candidate Julius Mawathe was declared the winner after garnering 21, 628. Mawathe trounced his main rival Irshad Sumra of ODM who got 7,988 votes.
Similarly, ODM candidate in Ugenya mini poll Christopher Karan was humiliated by David Ochieng of little-known Movement for Democracy and Growth Party (MDG).
Ugenya is Odinga's political backyard and is considered an ODM stronghold.
“In Embakasi South it was NASA versus NASA and Sumra congratulated Mawathe. Even us in ODM congratulated him (Mawathe)… So why is the media making a big issue about it? People will make comments here and there,” notes Odinga.
“There are no issues at all in ODM or any differences. ODM remains a very strong and united party.”
Comments
When will this man hand over…
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When will this man hand over the leadership to the young ones and realise his time is already past. We want to look and hear the next Onyango; Odur; Otieno with new thoughts and aspirations. This man is at the end of his rope. He has played all cards, nothing is left. Yes, defeat is a sign of what is ahead. Raila, hand over the button when you still can. Know when to stop. You are done. The world is entering a new chapter, and an old chapter is about to be closed ( you in it of-course).
It's a harbinger of apparent…
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It's a harbinger of apparent decline of a dictatorial political party. A one man show has a short life. When Raila is not available to pep up his followers, they wither because he is the party and the party is him and without his directives and presence people are lost. Like the old KANU, ODM's creed is subjugation. KANU used to ban members from the party and so does ODM (beautiful Aisha Jumwa). If you dare have thoughts other than those of the party, you're out. Remember men in black, remember how Oduor Ong'wen ODM executive official was kicked punched and his pants were torn at party headquarters( Daily Nation April 5th 2017), remember party official Magerer Langa't was roughed up and beaten up.(Daily Nation, 9-11-2014). The party of violence has bequeathed us burnt schools, burnt vehicles, looted shops and harassed and beaten up motorists and wananchi. Lots of Kenyans have perished in Raila's crusade to power including the most innocent Kenyans that were burnt arrive in Kiambaa church for simply being Gikuyus. If a man violently and desperately wants power above or else; for power's shake, he must be denied power or -we shall all perish.
For a man that has been…
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For a man that has been around for such a long time he has little development to show. He seeks for their own sake. Africa high priest for infrastructure!
A wake up call for Raila NOT…
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A wake up call for Raila NOT to take anything for granted. The war between the wealthy and the rich might be taking shape......
I wish we got better 'rich' candidates... Kibutha...Mukhisa... Githongo... just saying...
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