Kisii Governor Hon. Simba Arati has come out asking for former members of the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) to attend the party’s celebration of two decades, dubbed ODM @20, in honour of the party’s departed leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking in Bondo yesterday when he led Kisii County officials in paying their last respect to the departed hero, Arati asked former President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and President William Ruto to attend the commemoration of ODM @20 in honour of Raila Amollo Odinga.
The three leaders were founders of the Orange party in the run up to the 2005 referendum, and after the referendum. The referendum saw the Kilifi draft constitution, which was being fronted by then government side headed by President Mwai Kibaki, rejected by Kenyans.
Arati’s remarks come barely a week after Raila was laid to rest in Bondo.
“Mimi kama deputy party leader, tumeambia William Ruto, mweshimiwa Uhuru Kenyatta hata Kalonzo walikuwa ODM. Tunawaambia kwa kumpea heshima Baba, wao wakuje kutoka pale tujiunge pamoja katika ODM (As the deputy party leader, we would like to tell William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Kalonzo, who were members of OD,M to rejoin the party so that we can accord Raila Odinga his respect),” Arati stated.
President William Ruto was very categorical in Raila’s burial that he’d make sure that ODM doesn’t disintegrate to smaller groups even after it’s leader has been laid to rest. ODM @20 had been slated for Mombasa even before Raila died. However, when the opposition supremo went to India for medication, party leaders organised preliminary meetings in Mombasa to act as curtain raisers.
“The President yesterday said he is going to ensure that ODM remains the party it is. I want to urge him today, Mheshimiwa Ruto — you were a founding member of ODM. How I wish that you come back to your former party,” Arati said during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii.
“If you came back to ODM, then we would have you as our flag bearer. If you came back, we would fulfil the promise Baba had a vision for.”
Party remains strong
Simultaneously, Arati refuted assertions that ODM would not withstand the challenges that followed Raila Odinga’s demise. The Kisii governor emphasised that he would defend the political outfit and keep Raila’s legacy alive.
“Tumesema kwamba Baba aende salama na chama cha ODM kitasimama imara. Hakuna watu ambao watauza chama,” Arati stated.
