The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has repeated that its political pact with President William Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will come with conditions, Citizen Digital reported. Party leaders named the deputy president's seat as one of their key demands. They spoke at a rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday.
The Standard reported that the party used the event to show it is still a force in Nairobi politics. The event was billed as a tribute to the late party leader Raila Odinga. According to the paper, speakers spent much of the rally defending the "broad-based" arrangement with Ruto. A contest over who carries on Raila's legacy also featured heavily.
Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati said some people argue that Ruto should not face conditions. For ODM as a party, he said, conditions are a must. Mining CS Hassan Joho said ODM must keep its conditions and hold talks with its partners. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed said nothing comes for free. He added that the parties must sit down and agree.
Leaders also hit back at the Linda Mwananchi faction. They rejected claims that ODM had lost its relevance. Party Chairperson Gladys Wanga noted that critics claim ODM ended when they left. She then asked the crowd who all the people present were. Treasury CS John Mbadi recalled claims that the party is dead and asked where the proof was. Arati dismissed those who had left the party.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja signalled that he plans to seek re-election on an ODM ticket, Citizen Digital reported. He asked supporters whether he should join the party. The crowd cheered in agreement.
The rally ended in disarray. Supporters of Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri clashed with Sakaja's supporters. According to Citizen Digital, the clash exposed divisions among supporters within the broad-based arrangement.