Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has faulted the appointment of KRA chairman Antony Mwaura and Kenya Power’s Joy Mdivo to spearhead UDA Party elections.
ODM, through their secretary general Edwin Sifuna termed the appointment of Mwaura and Mdivo as a return of KANU era.
He said the move by UDA is a reminder of KANU regime where the party in power and the government
were one and the same.
“We are staring at a return of the party-state system last seen in the 1980s where party leaders and
public servants were one and the same thing,” Sifuna said.
However dismissed ODM’s accusations saying that the two appointees were not public servants and
thus can spearhead UDA’s grassroot party elections.
UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala said ODM’s accusations are unfounded, arguing that Mwaura
and Mdivo are not public officers.
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Malala hit back at ODM saying it has never held grassroot elections since its inception and lack of
democratic process in Raila-led party.
Malala: “The absence of grassroot election within the ODM party since its inception, close to 20 years
ago raises serious questions about its commitment to democratic processes.”
The former Kakamega Senator also accused ODM for diverting attention from wrangles within the party.
“ODM party is attempting to deflect attention from its internal challenges by casting aspersions on the
UDA Party,” Malala said.
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Raila Odinga, the ODM party leader has been frontend by the state to vie for African Union
Chairmanship (AUC), a position which, if he clinches, will see him exiting Kenyan politics.
Raila has fronted former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe
Oparanya as the new party honchos going forward.
This move has beaten some ODM party members against each other with insiders pointing out to the
differences on who will be the Party leader if Raila exits.
