Fred Odumo, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, says the party will survive even if its leader, Raila Odinga, becomes chairperson of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.
Mr. Odumo called those who are celebrating that ODM will disappear as soon as Mr. Raila becomes AU chairperson peddlers of lies.
The lawyer said the party has a system in place to guide the party if Raila leaves the party to serve in another field.
“Mr Raila has the same right to seek the position as any other candidate and the ODM party will not hold him back for fear of a vacuum,” he said.
The party said it would continue its activities without interruption.
Mr. Odumo noted that Mr. Raila had built the party over the years with a strong organization and in case of any doubt, the party constitution was in place to guide the party further.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday after meeting Kisumu East ODM party officials, Odumo said the party would not be disbanded due to Raila's departure.
“The party is very strong and I can say that with Rail's departure we will be stronger than before,” he said.
He also went further into the Budget Policy Statement (BPS), which will be debated in parliament next week.
Mr Odumo said the BPS was bad news as it entailed a new wave of taxes on Kenyans.
He said: “In the document, the government proposes an additional tax of 324 billion lice on Kenyans.”
He called on opposition MPs to amend the document to protect Kenyans from heavy taxes.
The BPS is a government policy document that sets out broad strategic priorities and policy objectives to guide national and county governments in preparing their budgets for the upcoming financial year.
During the ODM party executive meeting, Kisumu East sub-county executives resolved to work with Mr Odumo who is interested in the Kisumu senatorial seat in 2027.
Sub-County ODM Party Chairman, Mr Maurice Oura, said the idea of rejuvenating party officials to reach out to more party members during the registration drive was a wise move.
“We need a lot of support to recruit people who are interested in joining our party. That is the only way to increase our party's profile at the grassroots level,” he said.
Grace Jovita, president of the Women's Federation, echoed his sentiments and praised him for reaching out to party leaders to strengthen the party.
Mr Odumo announced that he would pay for the construction of a Kisumu East ODM party office in Morem to help coordinate the party's affairs.
“This is good news for us. We will have an office where we can meet and discuss party issues,” Jovita said.
