Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party founder Mugambi Imanyara revealed the reasons behind formation of the currently Raila Odinga led political outfit.
Speaking to Nation in a past interview (2007), Mr Imanyara said that ODM was masterminded by government led by retired President Mwai Kibaki.
“When President Kibaki’s ‘Banana’ team lost the referendum in 2005, it was a turning point for his presidency. Mr Odinga and the NO campaigners were ousted from government and had started popularizing ODM with intent to register it as a party. We had to act fast to disorganize their opposition,” Mr Imanyara said as reported by Nation.
According to Imanyara, government think tank advised him to register ODM and later advised opposition to register Orange Democratic Movement Kenya (ODM-K). The move worked and later Kalonzo deserted Raila Odinga leaving him without a party.
Kalonzo's move helped government to divide opposition by giving Odinga ODM. The two opposition leaders vied in 2007 giving Mr Kibaki a friendly experience than could have been the case if they chose one candidate.
“When the ODM secretariat discovered I had already registered the party, they made a lot of noise but I advised them to register another party by the name ODM-K. When elections were near Mr Kalonzo Musyoka made away with ODM-K leaving Mr Odinga without a party. We agreed to give ODM to Mr Odinga to divide them,” he recounted.
They lost in the controversial polls that led to violence and later a coalition government with Mwai Kibaki as president and Kalonzo Musyoka his vice.
Raila Odinga landed a Prime Minister slot that was created for the coalition government.