Raila calls for unity

<Posted by Pauline Onyango

API/APN in Kenya

ODM presidential candidate, Mr Raila Odinga, has urged party losers during the party primaries to reconcile and forge ahead.

Raila’s apology came a few hours after Pentagon member and running mate, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, apologised on behalf of the party at a Press conference in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The party used the news conference to announce that high profile losers would be co-opted to perform in important functions at Pentagon House.

A confident Raila said ODM would overcome the nomination shortcomings and emerge victorious on December 27.

The former Lang’ata MP condemned violence among party supporters and said leaders should not take the goodwill of Kenyans for the party for granted.

He added, “There should be no bad blood. I admit there were hitches during the nomination, which is regrettable because this was the first experience for our political parties.”

Raila is meeting party supporters overseas.

He thanked Kenyans for accepting the party’s apology over the polls fiasco.

Said he, “The people’s patience, tolerance and forgiveness for the party following the flawed nominations is a reflection that they want real change.”

He said the party did all it could to correct the mistakes, citing cases where popular candidates were rigged out.

“It was a learning experience. We want to assure our supporters that such mistakes will not be repeated,” said Raila, asking candidates let down by the nominations to take it in their stride. “Some cases in Coast Province like the Likoni constituency, which reached the party headquarters in time, were addressed immediately,” he noted.

Raila, who is expected back today, said he would present his papers to the Electoral Commission on Friday.

Raila rallied supporters of ODM with the call, “The battle has begun. Party supporters should not to be swayed.”

He announced that he would meet parliamentary candidates on Monday before starting a new phase of the party’s campaigns on Tuesday.

Said he, “I will meet all the candidates on Monday before launching the real campaign on Tuesday in Coast.”

In Nairobi, Mudavadi confirmed that ODM had summoned party parliamentary candidates for a meeting on Monday. “We have decided to hold a meeting of Pentagon, the National Executive Committee and the National Election Board with the candidates on the strategies for the campaign,” said Mudavadi. He said it was the desire of the party to have the highest number of MPs in the Tenth Parliament.

Mr Stephen Mwanga, who was replaced by former MP, Mr James Orengo in Ugenya, said at a press conference he would battle it out with the lawyer and reformist for the parliamentary seat, but campaign for Raila for president.

“I will support Raila. My rival is Orengo. The people have decided and I am determined to pursue my political ambition through Kaddu,” Mwanga said.

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