12 May 2008
Nairobi — Orange Democratic Movement will field candidates in the five constituencies to compete with the Party of National Unity in the June 11 by-election, deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi said Sunday.
The party, he said, wants to maintain its majority in Parliament.
Vacant
"We are a grand coalition, but there is no law that says Mr (Raila) Odinga cannot support his party," he said.
And there is no law barring Mr Odinga from campaigning for his party in the by-elections, he added.
"We want to main our majority in the House, that is why every seat counts," Mr Mudavadi said.
The Electoral Commission of Kenya recently announced the by-election programme for Emuhaya, Kilgoris, Ainamoi, Embakasi and Wajir North seats, which have remained vacant since January.
Garsen MP Danson Mungatana has been on record saying the two leaders, the President and Prime Minister, should not participate in the coming by-election campaigns.
But, Mr Mudavadi said, ODM is set to capture the five parliamentary seats to be contested so that the party can bolster its strength in Parliament.
He was speaking at Mr Odinga's homecoming party in Bondo.
The only PNU MP who attended the ceremony was Saboti's Eugene Wamalwa. The MP accused his colleagues in PNU of suffering from what he described as "Raila phobia".
Former Vice-President Michael Wamalwa, his elder brother, described the fear of Mr Odinga in similar terms, while he described the fanatic following as "Raila mania".
He said Mr Odinga was an enigma in the Kenyan politics, who could not be ignored any more.
Extolled
Cabinet ministers and MPs at the function extolled Mr Odinga's virtues as a leader.
Adjectives such as visionary, far-sighted, brave and determined were the order of the day as each speaker who stood to address the crowd heaped praises on the Prime Minister.
The leaders also appealed to communities in Western Kenya to stand together to chart a new course in the country's politics.
Industrialisation minister and ODM chairman Henry Kosgey urged the people not to lose sight of their goal of getting the presidency.
Other speakers included ministers James Orengo, Fred Gumo, Otieno Kajwang and Hellen Sambili.
Several Member of Parliament also talked.
Reports by Patrick Mayoyo, Dan Otieno and Walter Menya
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