The season of political migrations has just begun, with 500 members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) decamping to Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement party.
The UDA members from the Nyanza region who had left the ODM party after being lured by William Ruto’s men have returned home after failing to get their promises fulfilled.
According to one of the members who walked out, the party has been secretly registering members in the region without involving them, hence his decision to walk out with 500 others.
There was no democracy in ODM during the nominations leading to the past General Election, that is why we decamped to UDA. We expected that our pleas will be heard in the new party, but this has not been fulfilled,” said Duncan Ombati.
The UDA members in the Nyanza region were lured to join DP Ruto’s camp by one Eliud Owalo.
In conjunction with the DP’s brother David Ruto, Eliud Owalo has been tasked with growing Ruto’s popularity in Nyanza, which is a hard nut to crack since it is Raila Odinga’s backyard and ODM’s stronghold.
The 500 UDA members join ODM at a time when the party is keen on mass registration of members to give William Ruto a run for his money.
On June 30, ODM Party announced a 3 months waiver on registration fees for new ordinary members.
“The Party Leader Raila Amolo Odinga has directed my office to waive the membership fee for anyone wishing to join our party in the next three months beginning July 1, 2021,” read a statement by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The party announced that the strategy was a consideration because of the difficult economic conditions brought about by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Sifuna called on the party supporters to use the three-month free registration window to sign up in order to stand a chance to participate in the grassroots elections and nominations.