Lawyer Mugambi Imanyara has recounted the internal party rivalry that rocked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party before the 2007 elections, forcing Raila Odinga to beg him for the ODM party certificates.

Shortly after the 2005 constitutional referendum, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was established as a political coalition during the constitutional referendum campaign.

At the time, Mugambi, who was then viewed as an opportunist, proceeded to legally register the name “Orange Democratic Movement,” which forced the triumphant coalition from the constitutional referendum to use the name “Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya” (ODM–Kenya).

Also watch: Ruto: ODM will either form the next government or be part of it.

Registered ODM

“I knew that the Orange side of the constitutional contest would transform itself into a political party. I took the initiative to register the party called ODM. At the time, Odinga and his group fought hard for me to relinquish the party to them,”he said in an interview with a local TV station.

He said the development irked Odinga and his group, who even the services of Amos Wako to prevail on him to relinquish the party.

“I remember at one time Amos Wako asked me to hand over that party to them. They wanted to force me to relinquish the party,”he stated.

Talks with Raila

Unable to convince the lawyer, the faction was forced to settle for the Orange Democratic Movement -Kenya (ODM K) outfit.

However, following a tense leadership contest for the presidential ticket pitting Kalonzo and Raila in 2007, Musyoka’s faction, led by Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, rebranded as Orange Democratic Movement–Kenya (ODM-Kenya) as Raila Odinga was rendered partyless.

With nowhere to turn and months to the 2007 polls, Raila came back to Imanyara.

“The first thing Baba said is, you know I am sad that I fought you very hard for registering the ODM party, but I didnt know it might come a day when i would need what you registered. Can you show me the certificates?”he recounted during an interview with a local TV.

He stated that he later consented to handing over the party to Raila as his new political outfit, a development he noted brought huge jubilation after Baba solved a huge political problem.

‘You can imagine the kind of jubilation that emanated from the declaration from nowhere that Raila had solved a very big political problem.
ODM went on to win more seats than the Party of National Unity (PNU) that formed the government under President Mwai Kibaki.