NAIROBI, KENYA: Strategic planning on how to win the 2017 elections has started, and the opposition coalition CORD is leading the way.
CORD leader Raila Odinga and co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds, Kisumu for a political rally. Photo: DENNIS KAVISU
Today, we reveal the behind-the-scenes strategizing and actions by CORD, even as its leading party ODM plans internal elections next month.
One of the strategic initiatives is embarking on a “massive ID registration campaign” in its strongholds. This, the party reckons, will overturn the so called “tyranny of numbers”, which is associated with the ruling Jubilee coalition.
The coalition will be targeting school leavers and other eligible persons who do not have the crucial identification documents in Western, Nyanza and Coast. The coalition feels that majority of supporters from its strongholds do not register as voters because they do not hold IDs, a crucial identification document required for the exercise.
In their deliberations at Kisumu Impala Eco Lodge, governors, senators and women representatives allied to the coalition agreed to launch the drive early in March, targeting some 1.2 million eligible persons this year alone.
The coalition hopes to have reached six million eligible supporters by 2017. During the retreat co-chaired by CORD leaders Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Mr Moses Wetang’ula, the leaders also agreed to propose amendments to the law so as to decentralise ID production and issuance to the county level.
Those in the meeting expressed optimism that the move would expedite issuance of the documents to deserving youth. Currently, all IDs are produced in Nairobi by the Department of Registration of Persons under the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government.
Kalonzo, the former Vice-President, told the coalition that Jubilee had already started working on a plan to register more eligible youths “to perpetuate the command of numbers ahead of the 2017 general election”.
“Do not think that Jubilee is asleep. They are on it ahead of us but we want to register some 1.2 million eligible persons to hold IDs this year alone,” said Kalonzo.
He warned that unless such a campaign is rolled out early, CORD’s dream to form the government would remain a pipe dream.
“You heard them say that they are going to rule for 20 years and thought it was a joke. Not at all, they know they have the numbers, but to get them out of office, we must think big and urge our supporters to first hold IDs then register as voters,” the Wiper Democratic party leader urged.
CIVIC EDUCATION
CORD also plans to mobilise ID holders — especially in their strongholds — for voter enlisting. To this end, they are developing a strategy to intensify civic education to complement that of the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, a close Kalonzo ally, hinted that the coalition could have Raila as its presidential candidate.
“We can’t win a General Election by substituting a winning team…We had won the election but it was stolen,” Nyenze claimed at the weekend meeting.
According to the 2013 annual report prepared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), about 6.6 million eligible Kenyans did not participate in the last General Election because they lacked national IDs.
It meant that one in every three Kenyans eligible to vote did not participate in the 2013 General Election. The IEBC eventually registered 14,388,781 voters in a process delayed by protracted procurement of biometric voter registration kits.
Those who had waiting cards were also allowed to be enlisted as voters after the then President, Mwai Kibaki, assented to the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2012. The waiting cards, however, were only used in registration but not in voting.
The commission had aimed to register 18 million voters, meaning more than two million would still have missed out for lack of the identity documents.
And speaking in Nairobi yesterday, Suba MP John Mbadi opened the lid in what he felt led to CORD’s failure in the last elections.
Mbadi said Raila would have captured the coveted seat if those charged with overseeing nominations had done their job.
“Raila failed to capture the seat because nominations were rigged and more importantly, because those who were charged with managing the elections were just enriching themselves,” said Mbadi.
He was alluding to the chaotic ODM party nominations ahead of the March 2013 General Election.
The vocal lawmaker said it was important for the coalition to bring back the confidence of those who left because of lack of internal democracy. Mbadi, who has set his eyes on the party’s secretary-general’s seat in next month’s party elections, said the coalition must reinvent itself if it is to beat Jubilee come next elections.
Speaking to The Standard separately, Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ said Raila will not be made a prisoner by a few MPs from the Nyanza region.
Kajwang’ was reacting to calls by a section of MPs in the party telling Raila to keep off the February elections and not to endorse anyone.
He said leaders who have been in ODM for a very long time and had seen the party grow would not take this lying down.
Kajwang’ said it was ironic that the same MPs were urging Raila to ensure that the secretary-general’s position remained in Nyanza.
“This noise is perpetuated by those who lost in the primaries, and their reckless ambitions will only destroy the party,” said Kajwang’.
He accused opponents of sponsoring some individuals to divide ODM.
By JAMES MBAKA, The Standard