Members of ODM-Scandinavia will meet at Wananchi Pavilion on Friday this week to chart the future of the Party and to examine latest trends within the Party at home and abroad. Members and other Kenyans interested in politics have been meeting informally at the Pavilion every Friday and during the last two weeks, heated discussions have centered on why Kenyans in Stockholm have been unable to unite politically especially on the question of dual citizenship and voting from abroad.
According to Tonny, a Kenyan who introduced the topic and who tried to argue vehemently about the need for Kenyans to forget their political differences and push for dual citizenship/voting from abroad as a united entity, the main problem lies in lack of initiative.
Tonny believes that different Kenyan political parties in Sweden – ODM-Scandinavia, Narck-K Scandinavia, Chama Cha Mwananchi and other formations should address the twin issues of dual citizenship and voting from abroad as national issues of interest which surpasses political or ideological differences.
An opponent of this view reminded Tonny that in as much as the idea was splendid, political differences between Kenyan political parties in Sweden need to be appreciated. The pivotal point in this argument was that a party like Narc-KS is campaigning for the maintenance of political status quo in Kenya and that under the circumstances, if the official government policy is not pro dual citizenship or voting from abroad, then attracting Narc-KS members into the campaign trail on the two issues might be complicated.
Mark Gaya, an ODMS member, told the audience that the problem is not just about lack of initiative. He said that Kenyans in Stockholm had no central meeting place where ideas could be discussed. He congratulated ODMS for having acquired Wananchi Pavilion, a place where Kenyans could meet and informed his listeners that the setting up of the Pavilion was a practical move that, if exploited, could help Kenyans in Stockholm discuss and act on issues that are of common interest to members of the community.
For ODM-Scandinavia members, the big project after the nomination of Hon Raila Odinga as the Party’s Presidential candidate is how to plan the campaigns from Stockholm and how to utilize the campaign period to build the Party branch in Scandinavia.
Discussions are also expected to center around completion of the “harmonization process” of the Party through the construction of a new web site and how the Party branch in Scandinavia can reach out to other branches in the Diaspora for purposes of sharing strategy and comparing notes in the new political dispensation.
Most importantly, members of the Party would like to discuss the Party’s approach to key questions in the post election period which is expected to usher in an ODM government in Kenya. Many members believe that the issue of dual citizenship and voting from abroad are part and parcel of political support of ODM in Kenya and that these issues must not be left to take back stage.
Another issue is the fate of the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia H.E Mrs Purity Muhindi whose behavior is incompatible with her role as the representative of the Kenyan government in Scandinavia. Members are expected to discuss recommendations on what should be done with her once ODMS seizes power in Kenya.
The meeting on Friday starts at 18.30 and members are requested to keep time. Further information can be obtained through the ODMS Chairlady Mrs Hellen Opwapo.
Okoth Osewe
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