Speaking at Orange House today after holding a meeting with representatives of the Gusii community in Nairobi, Raila said he was unmoved by the political posturing and chest-thumping by the Jubilee administration, saying it is the people who have the final say.
“I have visited all the parts of this country and learned that Kenyans are tired of this administration that thrives on public relations and buying people,” he said.
The former Prime Minister said ODM is ready to face any challenge that will be brought by the Jubilee Party and that the opposition is equally prepared.
“We are seeing the opposition in town is trying to organise themselves. The message we are giving them is that we are ready for any challenge they might pose to us,” he said.
Raila said ODM will not be shaken by the formation of the new party, which he said is hot air and a mere ploy to try and reintroduce single-party rule in Kenya. He said ODM will keep being the majority party in Nairobi. “We shall win most parliamentary and MCA seats and reclaim what we gave away unfairly to Jubilee, like woman representative and the senatorial position.”
He exuded confidence that ODM will retain the governor’s seat. “They say the new party is meant to unite Kenyans. Kenyans are already united under ODM and Cord,” Odinga said, adding that ODM is the biggest party in the country, with membership from every community. He said Jubilee is "just a tribal party with no bearing". “As social democrats, we will continue to unite every Kenyan in readiness for the general election,” Raila said.
On IEBC reforms, Raila said one year was enough to make changes in the electoral agency, prepare a new voter register and carry out an election. “You don’t need five years to do this,” he said.
The ODM leader opposed plans to introduce a legislation in Parliament to compel people who lose in party primaries to support the winner and prevent them from joining other parties.
“When one joins a party, they do so knowing they are in that party because of its ideology and policies,” he said, adding that “if one loses in the nominations, it is common sense that they support the winner in the interest of the party; you don’t need a legislation on this.”
He said he will engage directly with the people to grow the party in the grassroots.
The delegation was led by chairman of the Gusii community in Nairobi, Joseph Nyandika, who said the community is solidly in ODM and behind Raila’s candidacy.