Press conferences and demonstrations against the Orange Democratic Party(ODM) rocked Mombasa and Kilifi today. The unprecedented events were staged by NASA affiliated parties who condemned ODM for rigging the August 8, 2017 elections.
The simultaneous events started with a press conference at Koblenz Hall, Digo Road Mombasa where aspirants who vied under Musalia Mudavadi's ANC party, Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Democratic Party, Hezron Awiti's Vibrant Party and Jirongo's United Democratic Party castigated ODM for duping them into an unworthy Alliance that never was. They claimed that ODM abused and misused their parties for its own gain.
The joint statement read by several gubernatorial, senatorial and women representatives of NASA affiliated party aspirants gave ultimatum to their party leaders to rethink their presence in NASA. Failure to have their grievances addressed, they threatened to consult their supporters and mobilize them to seek a new political direction in the region. They also vowed not to campaign for NASA presidential candidate, Raila Odinga.
There were allegations of massive rigging done by Orange Democratic Party in Kilifi and Mombasa, leading to the party sweeping over 90%of all contested posts in the region. Several petitions have been filed challenging the elections in the two counties.
This development puts ODM in a precarious and difficult position in the region where it used to enjoy huge following. It also puts into jeopardy any chances of Raila winning the October 26 repeat election, as this is clear crumbling of his previous stronghold.