Francis Muli
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party could crumble if the party leader Raila Odinga left, a new internal report has indicated.
The report first tabled to the Party’s National Executive Conference in March chaired by Raila indicates that ODM relied so much on him for its existence.
The report lays blame on the Secretariat, the National Executive Committee and National Elections Board of running down the party by bungling primaries.
“ODM party primaries have been described as the party’s biggest vice. Party elections are thought to lack credibility and do not meet the standard of being free, fair and democratic,” read the report in part.
This has led to mass defections of both supporters and aspirants to other rival parties, leaving ODM weakened which was once the biggest political party in Kenya.
“The party structures, especially the NEC, NEB and the Secretariat, have been blamed for conducting their business in a manner that is not transparent and accountable and [they] are thought to be in the business of deliberately staging for the chaotic and violent elections as a way of facilitating favourites to end up as nominees of ODM for the general elections,” adds the report.
Top leadership of the party is also blamed for not keeping in touch with the grassroots members, hence in most times making decisions that hurt party members.
“Grassroots party programmes are non-existent, especially outside the election season. ODM’s popularity at the grassroots is not backed with activities unless there is an election,” the report states.
The survey was conducted across Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Migori, Mombasa, Kwale Tana River, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri and Siaya counties by a team led by Catherine Mumma.
Other team members who were commissioned by the party to conduct the research last year included Lawrence Gumbe, Mumbo Gunda and Irshad Sumra.
Read: Confused Lot, KOT Tells ODM After Associating With Jubilee’s Victory In Wajir West
ODM has seen reduced number of elected Members of the National Assembly from 100 in 2007, 78 in 2013 and 58 after the 2017 General election.
The number shrinked to 56 after the Ugenya and Wajir West by-elections where it lost.
The number of governors reduced to 13 in 2017 from 16 in 2013, while the number of women representatives went down from 15 in 2013 to 11 in 2017.
The number of Senators rose from 11 in 2013, to 13 in 2017, which was the only increase.
The number of MCAs reduced to 333 in 2017 from 382 in 2013.
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