We have now been fully informed through various blog sites, about the formation and (mis)management of ODM-K Scandinavia. Below are key lessons learnt and the way forward.
1. ODM-K Scandinavia (ODM-KS) has no connection with ODM-Kenya: ODM-KS was formed by a team of selfish people with a personal agenda not known to the Kenyan public in Stockholm, Scandinavia or the Nairobi Secretariat.
2. The ODM-K website is not official: the website www.odmk.org was constructed by a few people in the inner core of ODM-KS and is not recognized by the ODM-K Secretariat in Nairobi-Kenya. WARNING: Do not register as a member of ODM-K on this website or donate any money here.
3. The ODM-KS Committee is full of opportunists: beware of future dealings with the ODM-KS committee because a lot of information given on KSB and Jamii has reflected the mindset behind this organization. Munala confessed on his Jamii blog that he will remain in politics as long as it takes. However, if somebody comes with money, he will dust his Bible and hit the road for more preaching. In his wrangles with Osewe of KSB, Munala wrote that what Osewe wants is what he also wants and that Osewe feels threatened by Jamii. WARNING: Kenyans should never deal with such opportunists.
4. Management ‘by silence’: as the ODM-KS leadership crisis continues, the culture of “I do not Care” rules. The Chairlady Mrs. Hellen Opwapo, has been quiet during this very stormy period in ODM-KS, playing the Kenya politician’s role of “just sit tight, we shall weather the storm”. There has been no official statement calling for a truce among the warring committee members. This clearly exposes her as a very weak leader. ODM-KS remains radarless. For ODM-K sympathizers, you have no representation in Stockholm-Sweden, because these people are not recognized in Nairobi.
5. Kenyans dwell on personalities and not issues: the ODM-KS wrangles have dwelt more on personalities and not issues. The crucial issues raised by commentators have not been answered. Instead, “Weapons of Personality Destruction” have been used whenever convenient, to cool down the critics. This has worked both ways to reveal the shadowy figures in the ODM-KS committee, and also some of the Kenyans who think that they are “cleaner” than the committee members. Lesson: Kenyans should be more cautious in their future dealings with them.
6. Conclusion: Kenyans need to ask themselves if they really want another political party/organization affiliated with Kenya in Stockholm and for what reasons. By analyzing the weaknesses of ODM-KS, interested parties can chart a better way forward. NOTE: Kenyans should remember that once in a while, a few new faces join the scene, but the game of opportunism remains the same.
By Muthoni Kabara
Published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no
