ODM responds to Karua on snubbing ODM Delegates Conference

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Saturday hit out at Narc Kenya presidential hopeful Martha Karua for snubbing  Friday’s National Delegates Conference at Kasarani in Nairobi.

The party’s Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o took issue with Ms Karua for sending a statement to newsrooms to explain why she snubbed the event. (READ: Karua turns down offer to attend ODM meeting)

“The attention of the ODM has been drawn to a statement issued by Hon. Martha Karua, the NARC-Kenya leader, that she rejected the invitation of our party to attend our National Delegates Convention on the 7th of December at the Moi International Conference in Kasarani,” Mr Nyong’s said in a statement.

He added that the practice in most democracies was that political parties usually invite sister parties, including opponents, to such conventions.

“The Labour Party invites the  Conservative Party to its conference, and vice versa in Great Britain. The Democrats and the Republicans similarly undertake such reciprocation in the USA,” he stated.

“The ODM would like us in Kenya to take democratic practice among political parties to this higher level. Hon. Martha Karua shouldn’t  make a mountain out of a mole hill. It will not improve her political stature in Kenyan politics,” he added.

Rejecting Mr Odinga’s invitation to attend the conference which saw the party’s delegates unanimously endorse the PM to run for the presidency in the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD), Ms Karua said she does not believe “in pre-election coalitions”.

She explained that the invitation letter had implied that Narc Kenya had already agreed to join CORD, in which ODM is a founding member.

“For the avoidance of doubt, neither me nor the party I lead (Narc-Kenya) are members of the said coalition. We do not believe in pre-election coalitions and as such are not seeking to become members. We therefore with respect decline your invitation,” she wrote.

Mr Odinga had on Wednesday sent a letter to Ms Karua inviting her to attend the event.

“It is my pleasure to invite you and other representatives of Narc Kenya to attend the National Delegates Convention of ODM scheduled to be held in Nairobi on Friday December 7, 2012,” the letter stated.

“Your presence at the event will contribute greatly in strengthening the partnership amongst the members of the Coalition for Reform and Democracy.”