The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) maintains that the ODM-Jubilee talks will not be derailed by the recent losses suffered by Jubilee at the hands of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in recently concluded by-elections.
On July 17, 2021, ODM chairman John Mbadi affirmed that talks to field a single ODM-Jubilee candidate in 2022 are still on.
He added that ODM does not aspire to gain support from all Jubilee strongholds but just a portion from Jubilee strongholds country-wide.
“We do not want the entire number. We just want the numbers they have at the moment to combine with others. We did not have the numbers before.” Said Mbadi.
Out of 11 by-elections Conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Jubilee party has only won three seats; Baringo South, Wajir West and Garissa. The party lost in Kibra, Bonchari Juja and recently Kiambaa. Jubilee Chose to abstain from Machakos, Msambweni, Kabuchai and Matungu.
Mbadi dismissed the Deputy President's recent wins in the central region saying they do not make him the man to watch in the area which voted for Jubilee overwhelmingly in the 2013 and 2017 general elections.
“It is in Juja where they lost massively, but they still have numbers that will come to our basket. In Mugunga they won by a small margin. In Kiambaa the loss was of a small margin too. It is interesting to say Ruto controls Mount Kenya. That is not what we call controlling the region.” Mbadi said.
He went on to state that he will not spill the beans to the public on the deal being orchestrated between the two political parties considered the ruling and the opposition parties.
“If we start sharing the details at the moment, we will jeopardize our talks,” Mbadi stated.
This comes a week after the ODM patron, Raila Odinga, stated the ongoing coalition talks between his party and that of President Kenyatta is a preparation for next year's general election duel.
Five negotiators drawn from each of the two parties will hash out the terms of the expected coalition, while the respective directors from each party will serve as the joint secretaries.
Jubilee will be represented by their vice-chairman, David Murathe, Party Secretary-General Rafael Tuju, National Assembly Majority Whip Emanuel Wangwe, Igembe North Maoka Maore and Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda.
The ODM side will be represented by John Mbadi, Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Minority Chief Whip Junet Mohammed, nominated senator Agnes Zani and Kisii Woman Representative Janet On’gera.
