Kenyans in Stockholm are approaching a quiet week-end, save for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ODM-KS scheduled for Saturday May 19th. There is no Kenyan Party over the week-end although ODM-KS will stage a Reception after their AGM to welcome the new office. It will be the first AGM to be staged by the Party since it was set up last October.
ODM-KS election candidates are winding up campaigns ahead of elections on Saturday. Campaigns have mainly been going on “at the grass roots” and away from the Internet. The Annual General Meeting that has been called by the Committee is more of a blessing to the Party because the controversy that erupted following the nomination by Raila Odinga as ODM-Kenya Presidential candidate has heightened tremendous interest in the Party.
At the time of the crisis, the Party had 22 paid up members out of an approximate membership of 43 but as the crisis unfolded and the Interim Committee moved to call elections, the number of passive members who have already settled their dues has shot up dramatically. Several new members who are interested in ODM-KS politics have also joined the Party.
There are members who simply want to defend the Raila nomination while others would like to see an elected Office run the Party. Others are openly against certain Committee members whom they want out of the leadership while others submitted their names as candidates because they believe that they can play a role in giving the Party direction.
There are no major fire-works expected at the AGM because “the opposition” seem to be having no support. During an illegal “Emergency member’s meeting” that was called by two Committee members recently, not a single member turned up to support them.
Majority of members who showed up were on the side of the leadership. The dissenting Committee members ended up addressing a hostile crowd that forced the Committee to conduct an emergency evacuation of Wananchi Pavilion when the hostility turned into a “shouting match”.
The AGM is good for the Party because members will get an opportunity to have the final say over Party affairs. Even Committee members like Mr. Martin Ngatia agree that members need to elect a new office because “there are traitors within the Party”. As the week-end approaches, all eyes are on ODM-KS polls.
Mrs Hellen Opwapo, ODM-KS Chairlady, told KSB that “everything has been done” to ensure that the AGM goes on smoothly. She encouraged members to keep time.
Okoth Osewe
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