The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party blossomed at the Coast at its peak in the 2013 and 2017 General Elections.
As a party of choice that promised goodies for the region in terms of development, ODM literally became the talk of every Coasterian.
In it, emerged key leaders, Hassan Joho (Mombasa Governor) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi Governor) who would then be the front runners in selling the party ideologies to the masses around the Coast.
But now the tide has changed and the ODM fraternity in Kilifi is still struggling after the exit of Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
The incumbent Kilifi Governor believed to be the person behind the Pamoja African Alliance(PAA) political party has decided to move on after he was replaced by Teddy Mwambire as the chairman of the ODM coordinating Team in Kilifi county several weeks ago.
Also Read
- Four IEBC Commissioners Sworn In Amid Petition
- Firms Go After Blogger Over Mud-Smearing Campaigns
- Governor Mutua Speaks After Warrant Of Arrest
After a meeting ousted Mr Kingi, he went ahead and thanked the party for giving him the opportunity to serve as its chairman in Kilifi County but said that it was time to move on.
The Governor is however still a member of the ODM party since he has not resigned from the party.
However, it has not been the same since Kingi s ouster and the party has been faced with a number of several stabs from its former members who together with the Governor, decided to throw their weight behind a new political party that will soon be announced. The part is associated with Governor Amason Kingi.
But some ODM loyalists led by their chairman Teddy Mwambire have taken the matter with the much-needed seriousness.
They recently met with some MCAs to deliberate on the way forward in as far as ODM affairs in Kilifi are concerned.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Mr Mwambire said the party is soon going to start grassroots campaigns to make it even more popular despite that it is still enjoying most followers in the region.
“ODM is still very strong in Kilifi and let no one gets cheated that all is not well. We shall go and open offices in different parts of this county and tell our people the naked truth about the ideologies of the party. We shall not relent on our quest to make our party even more famous,” said Mr Mwambire.
Also Read
- Four IEBC Commissioners Sworn In Amid Petition
- Firms Go After Blogger Over Mud-Smearing Campaigns
- Governor Mutua Speaks After Warrant Of Arrest
The Ganze MP said he was aware of some people who have dissociated with the party talking ill and misinforming the public about ODM but added that they will be shamed to the last core,” he said.
Those who attended the meeting at Silver Palm Hotel in Kilifi said they were ready and sure that ODM is going to capture all the seats in the next General Election.
“I want to tell those who left the party and are now ridiculing to know that it is a matter of time before they realize that ODM is not dead as they are claiming,” said Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga.
His sentiments were echoed by Kilifi Senator, Stewart Madzayo who said that ODM is going to win with a landslide in the next year’s General Election.
Kilifi county women rep, Mbeyu Mwanyanje said it was sad that some of the politicians throwing jabs at ODM have not left the party and are enjoying their salaries.
“Those talking and throwing stones at ODM are still earning their salaries in parliament and at the assembly courtesy of ODM. But it will soon come a time when they will realize that they were in the wrong,” she said.
Others who attended the meeting included Rabai MP William Kamoti among other ODM politicians.
But according to the Deputy Leader of the Majority at the Kilifi County Assembly Sammy Ndago,, it’s time to move on and that they will no longer support ODM in the next election. Mr. Ndago is a close ally of Governor Kingi.
“This time around, we have our own party, and time to move on is now,” he said.
Apart from Governor Kingi who has poured cold water on the party, ODM has been struggling with party rebels led by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa. The duo together with Kaloleni MP Paul Katana have joined Deputy President William Ruto s UDA party.
