By Lauryne Akoth
The UDA party has rubbished claims of the government using state power to destabilize ODM’s strongholds.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala refuted these claims and instead pointed an accusatory finger towards ODM’s leadership.
He accused the ODM party of blaming others for their losses and scapegoating its failures to manufactured enemies.
“In reality, ODM counties are being mismanaged by corrupt, incompetent, and inept governors who are getting protection from the ODM party itself,” stated Malala.
He remarked that the UDA party would furnish evidence demonstrating how governors affiliated with ODM have been diverting funds from county coffers to support private political endeavors benefiting their party leader, Raila Odinga.
Malala further accused the ODM party of attacks witnessed recently in the NYanza region. He stated that the leading opposition party has become tyrannical, suppressing the will of the people.
He criticized the altercations instigated by local ODM politicians observed in Migori and Kisii counties during funerals, asserting that it reflects ODM’s intolerance towards any type of political rivalry, including internal contests within the party itself.
Malala also attributed the significant exodus of ODM party members to other ‘friendly’ parties to the aggressive actions of ODM, with UDA emerging as the primary beneficiary.
UDA’s Secretary General was referencing Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s sentiments on a plot to use the state machinery to destabilise its strongholds.
The opposition leader’s remarks followed a meeting held yesterday by the party leadership with leaders from Kisii and Migori counties. The party had convened the leaders to address the recent clashes between officials in the two regions.
Tensions flared during a funeral service in Uriri, Migori County, last Friday, where purported supporters of two local leaders clashed.
A similar incident occurred on Sunday during a church fundraiser at Etono grounds in Bomachoge Borabu, Kisii County.