Billionaire Jimmy Wanjigi was stoned by ODM Cows in Migori. ODM Leadership believes he is a mole.
Billionaire Jimmy Wanjigi Tour came to a halt after he was attacked by ODM goons in Migori county. The billionaire has been on a tour in Nyanza province to popularize his candidature for the coming ODM Presidential primaries.
In a viral video, Wanjigi has just started addressing a roadside rally from the sunroof of a four-wheel-drive vehicle when youths started hurling stones at him. A stone narrowly misses Wanjigi’s head as the youth chant Raila’s name.
“When I say ODM, say Fagia Wote (sweep all of them),” these are the remarks that seem to have infuriated a section of youth who hurled stones directly at him, missing him by a whisker.
He quickly tucked back before his convoy sped off, causing panic among his entourage and handlers.
The businessman has been scathing in his attacks on matters of ODM internal democracy. The billionaire stormed Chungwa House a few weeks ago and demanded to face former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the ODM Presidential primaries that will be held at Kasarani before the end of December.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Wanjigi described Raila as one of the most formidable politicians he has known but whose glory days are over.
“I can tell you my true belief is that he had his time and his season,” he said.
However, ODM leadership is not willing to take the punches anymore and is questioning Wanjigi’s “hurried manner” of pushing his candidature.
Party chairman John Mbadi and secretary-general Edwin Sifuna accused the businessman of dictating how the flagbearer should be picked.
The party will not be arm-twisted but will be guided by its election rules to pick its candidates, the duo said. Sifuna reminded Wanjigi that ODM rules allow the issuance of a direct ticket to its flagbearer.
The Suba South MP said Wanjigi has yet to pay the Sh1 million aspirants fee and should be the last person to make demands.
“First of all, he should hold his horses; he is not even an ODM aspirant. He has not paid Sh1 million to be an ODM aspirant,” Mbadi said.
“The list of delegates is being compiled by the national elections board. The board will announce when the list will be ready, the campaign period for aspirants. I don’t know what he is in a hurry for?
“He should not appear like he is running the process; he should not dictate the process. The process should be dictated by election rules.”
Sifuna on his part barked that ODM party has four constitutional methods of choosing a flagbearer and the delegates route is just one of them. He said the party can adopt consensus, the delegates route, or a direct nomination informed by a scientific poll on aspirants’ popularity on the ground.
And the party can also have ODM cardholders vote directly and determine who among the spirants will fly the party’s flag.
“The party is like a club guided by laid-down rules. ODM nomination rules talk of four methods in choosing its candidate,” Sifuna said.
“He (Wanjigi) can’t come and dictate how the party operates. He is bound by the rules just like everyone else.”
The leaders also castigated the businessman for opening parallel party offices, terming the move a breach of the ODM constitution.
They said any office opened without the approval of Chungwa House is not recognised as the party’s office.
Wanjigi seems to be on a verge of a war with ODM leadership (Hon Mbadi, ODM Secretary Sifuna and Hon Junet) backed by men in black and ODM goons.
Wanjigi on his part rebuked ODM Secretary Sifuna, ODM Chairman Hon. Mbadi and National Assembly Minority Leader Hon Junet Mohammed.
“Once you take public office, it is about service, not enrichment. We had something to do with voicing corruption in this country. Raila & I have not fallen out, we are practicing democracy, he has not even announced that he is running.”
