NASA co-principal Raila Odinga. (Photo - nation.co.ke)
An Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader has questioned the opposition’s strategy in Northern Kenya, specifically the North Eastern region.
The MP who spoke on condition of anonymity said that The National Super Alliance (NASA) has not been aggressive in wooing the region, which is dominated by members of the Somali community.
The Jubilee Party has recently made inroads in the region, with several legislators defecting from ODM to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party.
One week ago, four MPs and 25 MCAs from Marsabit County vowed to back Uhuru’s bid for a second term in office.
Governor Ukur Yattani also decamped from Raila’s party ODM to Jubilee.
According to the MP, Raila has had a strong message of extrajudicial killings, mishandling of the war on terror and the detention of Somalis in the Kasarani Stadium, which he and his team have not articulated well.
He says if not taken seriously, the region might be won by Jubilee in the upcoming general election.
“Nothing makes Somalis more bitter than the historical injustices, including alleged discrimination in the issuance of ID cards,” said the ODM MP as reported by the Star.
Both Jubilee and NASA have marked the North Eastern region as a swing vote bloc.