Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
It is going to be a show of political supremacy between the Pamoja African Alliance(PAA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Kilifi County.
After leaving ODM and forming his PAA outlook, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has emerged to say that he will support ODM leader Raila Odinga for the Presirency.
On the other hand, ODM will still wants to remain the most dorminant political party in Kilifi.
Currently the major headache for both parties is over fielding of candidates in the oncoming general elections.
Both two political parties support ODM Party leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid under Azimio but are battling for the other seats from Governor to Members of county assembly on the ground.
The Differences heightened after Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who doubles up as the PAA party leader announced that they would support Raila on conditions that his party will not field candidates at the county of Kilifi which is one of his major strongholds.
MPs Allied to ODM led by Kilifi County Chairman Teddy Mwambire immediately reacted in a press conference in parliament buildings calling on Kingi to stop issuing demands as if his party has any coalition agreement.
In response, PAA party spokesman Lucas Maitha clarified in a press conference that they were supporting Raila as an Azimio presidential candidate but will field their own candidates from governors, MPs, Senators, Woman reps, and MCAs.
Mr Maitha said they only have an agreement with Jubilee Party and may harmonize in some areas where they feel could affect their unity and allow the party to field candidates.
He said as for now they have no written agreement with ODM party and do not think there would be any that’s why they shall support Raila as an Azimio candidate.
Currently, Maitha said they have candidates from Makueni and Migori counties who are contesting on a PAA ticket and shall give them tickets together with the necessary support required.
“We support Raila as an Azimio presidential candidate because we are in the coalition, what the ODM people led by Teddy are doing is panicking politically, they know that the competition from Governor and the other seats in Kilifi is between ODM and PAA,” he said.
The PAA spokesman said PAA is ahead of the other parties and shall sweep all the seats that’s why they ride on Raila’s back to get support.
He said as things are it’s Raila who needs PAA more than they need him because they have the machinery to marshal votes for him in the oncoming elections.
“Let them not panic because all of us have been united by Raila, we are just a friendly force of which we know we shall win,” he said.
Maitha said Kingi is the one campaigning for Raila together with PAA but the ODM leaders only wait for the party leader to come and show off.
Governor Amason Kingi is currently on a 21-day tour of the county campaigning for Raila that’s why the ODM leaders are in panic mode.
“Times have changed its true in 10 or 15 years Kilifi has been an ODM zone but now things are different as people have moved to PAA,” he said.
However, in a rejoinder Malindi Sub County branch ODM Vice-Chairman Nixon Mramba assured ODM members in Kilifi county that the party is firm and shall soon roll out an aggressive campaign all over the grassroots.
Mr Mramba spoke after a delegates’ meeting in Kaoyeni area Malindi and said as ODM they are ready and well prepared for the oncoming elections.
“Recently there have been concerns over statements made by our governor Amason Kingi who moved from ODM and formed his own party PAA and is trying to blame ODM for his troubles,” he said.
The MCA said Kingi has been an MP, Minister, and Governor for 10 years but thought of forming a party at a time when he is exiting the office.
He said PAA has no agreement with ODM so he should raise his concerns with the Jubilee party where they have an agreement.
Mramba said they have no war with Kingi and should stop fighting them and respect Raila not to give demands which are not substantial.
“Kilifi is an ODM stronghold and on August 9 you will believe my words and those of all delegates, Lucas who is the PAA spokesman lost his parliamentary seat and we wonder how he is now the PAA spokesman let him come back here to contest and shall not win even a parliamentary seat,” he said.
Mr Mramba said Kingi should not brag that he managed to sweep almost all the seats in 2017 because people voted for ODM and Raila as their candidate and party of choice.
Riziki Baya the ODM Women League Chairperson Malindi branch said the party was still strong and has laid down all strategies which will prove that the party is still strong.
She said all seats will be won by candidates of ODM from MCAs, MPs, Senator, Woman rep, and Governor our opponents should be prepared for a mother of all battles and shall see dust.
“PAA party is the one misusing Raila’s name they are the ones who had no presidential candidate and chose Raila but each time they talk bad about him saying he is not the right candidate we are telling them to go and chose the presidential candidate they want,” he said
Daniel Chai Chiriba a member of the county assembly of Jilore said ODM is popular and all strong candidates will be given tickets to view as ODM candidates.
