ODM leader Raila Odinga says leaders who play the ethnic and regional cards during grassroots elections will face severe consequences.
Raila addressed the ODM National Governing Council 2024 meeting in the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi and urged leaders to end premature succession contests.
He stated that the future grassroots elections should be a cordial contest designed to unify rather than split the party.
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The opposition leader emphasized that elections should be based on ODM's policy, philosophy, and views rather than tribe, ethnicity, gender, location, or religion.
“We have painstakingly built this party into a truly national liberation mass movement, it is too late and futile to try and turn it into a tribal or regional outfit, all our actions and utterances must reflect this reality, I particularly encourage women to go for leadership positions,” said Raila.
He congratulated party leaders, saying they have served with courage and decency throughout the years and must do so with dignity when challenged for their posts.
Raila expressed sorrow that the party faces significant difficulty preparing for grassroots elections because the Kenya Kwanza government has denied political parties legally mandated finances.
He reaffirmed that the party will not allow the changes for which they battled to be reversed within their lifetime.
Raila stated that the incoming office-bearers should prepare to fight the government over political party funding.
However, he urged the commanders to be clear on who the opponent is and what the conflict would entail, as they have no choice but to look forward.
“ODM party was born out of a struggle, when a tiny elite forces of status quo tried to circumvent the wishes of Kenyans, the party sprung up as a mass movement to stand for the people, we must never lose sight of the fact that fighting on the side of the people is our calling,” said Raila.
