The ODM leader Raila Odinga has employed a multifaced campaign strategy, aimed at deflecting Deputy President William Ruto’s endless energy.
In an attempt to measure up with the ever-vigorous campaign program by DP Ruto, Raila Odinga has decided to devolve his campaign to ensure that many parts of the country are covered by his team.
The campaign deployed by Kenya Kwanza can be termed as a one-man show, where William Ruto is always the focal point in all campaigns, he rarely misses and if he does then the turnout is usually poor.
On the other hand, the former prime minister has clustered his campaign teams in a way that the teams hold simultaneous campaigns across the country to popularize his candidature and the Azimio la Umoja outfit.
In an effort to the maintain Mulembe voting bloc even after Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula moved to Kenya Kwanza, the ODM leader has set up three teams in the hunt for Western votes.
The first team is led by Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa assisted by Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati and former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya.
Wamalwa’s team is tasked with delivering Bungoma County and Trans Nzoia County votes to the Azimio movement.
The second Mulembe team is led by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Vihiga counterpart Wilberforce Otchillo and they are in charge of Kakamega and Vihiga campaign zones.
The last team in the Western region is set to deliver Busia County votes and is coordinated by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong together with former Funyula MP Paula Otwoma.
A good point for Raila is that the Western teams have been at times holding joint campaign rallies where they have castigated the move by Mudavadi and Wetangu’ula to join DP Ruto.
The western region which boasts of more than 2 million registered voters has always voted for the ODM leader but the entry of Kenya Kwanza has thrown the region’s political stand wide open.
In the larger Nyanza region, Kisii Governor James Ongwae and his Kisumu counterpart, Anyang’ Nyong’o are coordinating the Azimio campaigns.
Being the bedrock of Raila Odinga the region is expected to overwhelmingly vote for the ODM leader in the August 9 election.
Apart from sensitizing Raila’s supporters about the Azimio coalition, the other main task for the Nyanza team is to educate the region on the importance of turning out in large numbers to votes
It is good to point out that in the previous elections, Raila’s strongholds have recorded low turnouts on voting day.
The Eastern especially Ukambani is completely locked with Governors Charity Ngilu, Alfred Mutua, and Kivutha Kibwana leading thunderous campaigns for Azimio and Raila Odinga.
The governors have been holding rallies, small group meetings, and roadshows all aimed at hunting votes for the ODM leader.
“We aren’t saying Azimio for no reason. Azimio for us represents the devolution agenda because we have seen Raila fight for the constitution, multiparty, democracy, and even the things he says, one of them is to strengthen the devolution,” the three governors said recently.
In the vote-rich region of Mt Kenya, Raila has deployed Laikipia Governor Nderitu Mureithi, Peter Kenneth, Peter Munya, and Lee Kinyanjui to coordinate the Azimio vote hunt.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s foot soldiers in the mountain are also doing a great job in selling the Azimio gospel.
The rejuvenation of the Jubilee party through the ‘Red Army’ is also playing a great role in ensuring Raila’s candidature reaches many voters in the region.
At the coastal region, Raila Odinga is banking on the region’s governors, politicians; Suleiman Shahbal, Abulswamad Nassir, and a host of ODM elected leaders to ensure the region remains behind Raila’s presidential bid.
In Northern Kenya Odinga has deployed Governor Ali Roba, Fatuma Gedi, and Treasury CS Ukur Yattani to lead the Azimo vote hunt in the region.
An important aspect that comes out is that these teams have been pooling enough crowds even without the ODM leader attending himself.
This well-oiled devolved campaign strategy by the ODM leader is currently at per with the Kenya Kwanza team, who have been holding more than 10 rallies a day in one region.
For example in the last four days, while DP Ruto led his team seeking votes in the counties covering Kiambu, Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi, Raila Odinga’s devolved team was everywhere in the country.
In the four days, Raila has led a team comprising of Hassan Joho, Kanini Kega, Sabina Chege, Junet Mohamed, Babu Owino in covering the coastal counties.
As Raila was campaigning at the coast, the Oparanya team was in Western and Kisumu, while the Jubilee team was contacting ground activations in various constituencies in the Mt Kenya region.
