The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party’s popularity in North Eastern politics is fizzling out at an alarming rate.
The Raila Odinga-led party was once a giant in the North Eastern region in terms of popularity.
However, over the years, the Orange party has become a 'spectator' when it comes to Northern Kenya politics.
Last week’s move by former Wajir West MP Mohamed Kolosh to quit the Orange party has exposed the party’s fizzling popularity in Northern Kenya.
Kolosh quit the Orange Party days after the Supreme Court nullified his election on grounds that it was not free and fair.
The former MP has since admitted that he ditched the Orange Party because it is no longer popular in the region.
Kolosh, in an interview with journalists on Friday, said he preferred to join President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party which he said is more popular.
In 2007, the Orange Party was famous with the likes of Garissa Township MP Aden Duale dancing to its political tune.
However, things started falling apart for the Orange Party as the majority of the region's politicians led by Duale abandoned Raila.
In the 2013 and 2017 general election, North Eastern counties (Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, and Marsabit) massively voted for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The recent Supreme Court verdict that validated Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud election was another big blow to ODM.
The Orange party was hoping that the apex court would have given former ODM governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamed a political lifeline.
According to political analyst Peter Ngure, North Eastern is once again likely to massively vote for Jubilee in 2022.
He says the Jubilee government commitment to fight hunger, insecurity and unite North Eastern region has seen it win the support of the locals, especially the Somali and Muslim community.
“With the likes of Duale firmly in the ruling party, it is obvious that the region (North Eastern) will once again vote Jubilee in 2022,” he said in an interview on Monday.
Duale alongside other top politicians from the North Eastern region has declared support for Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
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