Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party youth in Malindi Sub County have demanded the immediate opening of a party office in the sub county.
The youth, who are members of the ODM Youth League, noted with great concern that the lack of a party office in the area had made it impossible to have a clear party structure as enshrined in the party’s constitution.
They said Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa, who they looked at as the party leader in the constituency, had abandoned the party to champion the interests of the Tangatanga movement, hence leaving the party without clear leadership.
In a statement read by Mgomoka Salim, the youth called on ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga, his deputy Hassan Ali Joho and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, who is the ODM Branch Chairman, to visit Malindi to resolve pertinent party issues that need their attention since their legislator decamped to Tangatanga.
“We demand that our party leader Raila Odinga, the deputy leader Ali Hasssan Joho and our governor Amason Jeffa Kingi who is also the chairman of the party in Kilifi county, come to Malindi subcounty since we have pertinent party issues that need their attention as our legislator decamped to Tangatanga,” said the Malindi ODM youth league.
They notified the party leadership that a cabal of people who masquerade and operate as cartels and demigods in ODM that must be worshiped for a noble process to take place had invaded the party due to the lack of clear leadership structures.
“These people are lethal to the extent that they are scaring away party aspirants and party supporters since they purport to be the party’s electoral board and they are mandated by the party to vet and approve aspirants at a fee.
“We are asking the party headquarters if it ever commissioned the opening of a private office in Kilifi town that is managed by the same individuals, who demand that for one to be a member, one must pay Sh500,000 nonrefundable and non-accountable,” asked the ODM youth league.
They demanded that all the party activities within Malindi Sub County be conducted by local leaders and members, not people from other areas.
They also demanded that the upcoming ODM grass-root elections be free, fair, credible and transparent as it is the only way to restore the confidence of the party supporters and also win over other new members.
“We hereby give an ultimatum to the party leadership to either take legal action against these people, respond to all our concerns or we consider our party loyalty as the people of Malindi sub county,” the ODM youth league said.
The youth league members however said they support the Building Bridges Initiative and called on the County Assembly of Kilifi to immediately pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill unconditionally.
They also demanded that they be directly involved in the steering of the BBI process in Malindi without the interference of people from people outside the constituency.
“We are aware if cartels within Kilifi County who are planning to hijack BBI and cash on it. We ask the party to intervene failure to which we shall be forced to oppose the document and the whole process in totality,” they said.
The assembly is among six county legislative assemblies that have not yet decided the fate of the BBI referendum bill. It is expected to do so this Friday.
Ali Mlanda, Fadika Gordon and Ibrahim Mwanjala said the youth had read and understood the document and called on the promoters to ensure the youth are involved in the entire process.
On her part, Betty Mlanda from Ganda ward rooted for women to be included in the process saying many times, the female gender had been sidelined in pertinent party matters.
by Diana Neema/Lulu Kinyanjui/ Emmanuel Masha
