Inside Raila’s 9-Day Consultative Forums Plan
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has scheduled a series of discussion forums in a minimum of nine counties, commencing on Monday, in response to the looming possibility of additional street demonstrations protesting against elevated taxation.
The forums will serve as a dual-purpose platform, facilitating the recruitment of a large number of members for the ODM, to revitalize the organization in preparation for its scheduled grassroots elections in April.
On Wednesday, Mr. Odinga, leading the ODM Central Management Committee meeting, declared that the party’s senior leaders will be stationed in Busia County starting Monday to initiate a nine-day recruitment campaign and engage in consultative sessions.
On Tuesday, Mr. Odinga is scheduled to guide the party through another gathering and recruitment initiative in Vihiga County, followed by a transition to Bungoma on Wednesday.
The party is scheduled to shift to the Coast and convene its initial gathering in Lamu on January 22. Subsequently, it will proceed to Tana River on Tuesday and Kilifi on Wednesday.
Mr. Odinga and his supporters are scheduled to proceed to Taita-Taveta on Thursday, Kwale on Friday, and Mombasa on Saturday, following this sequence.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna mentioned that Mr. Odinga, alongside key party figures and elected representatives, will spearhead the discussions.
“As we continue to regroup and revamp, the Central Committee has proposed a calendar of events for January. The party grassroots recruitment that started last year shall continue with events in these areas,” said Mr Sifuna in a statement. “These recruitment drives shall also be accompanied by consultative forums.”
On December 30, 2023, Mr. Odinga urged the government to retract the Finance Act 2023, warning that he would mobilize his followers for protests if they failed to do so.
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“The cost of living is high. We told them not to increase the taxes but they have continued doing the opposite. The Finance Act must be repealed in its entirety. If they do not do it, we will go back to the streets.” Mr Odinga said.
The party has been conducting an extensive campaign to increase its membership across different regions of the country since last year. Officials characterize this effort as a strategic, long-term initiative aimed at fortifying the organization and establishing it as the preferred political choice leading up to the upcoming elections.
“We will do our party elections in April, and then do a national delegate’s convention between May and June this 2024,” Mr Odinga said.
Opiyo Wandayi, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, stated that the intention is to portray the group as the sole rescuer for the people of Kenya.
“The response to the ongoing registration has been enormous, especially from the youth who want to identify with ODM, which is the only known progressive party,” Mr Wandayi said.
ODM has raised concerns about the Kenya Kwanza government’s efforts to suppress the activities of political parties by withholding their financial support.
“In its very first supplementary budget in September 2023, the regime cut funds allocated to parties by over 60 percent. This year the onslaught has continued with further cuts. This is a clear demonstration of the regime’s intent to cripple all key institutions of democracy, from Parliament to the Judiciary to the political parties,” said Mr Sifuna.
Inside Raila’s 9-Day Consultative Forums Plan
