The National Super Alliance (NASA) is back to the drawing board to craft a strategy to win back its disappointed supporters after postponement of Raila Odinga’s swearing-in on Tuesday.
On Sunday, NASA co-principal Musalia Mudavadi announced they have put off the plan until further notice.
He cited local and international pressure to drop the oath plan which could have seen Raila charged with treason.
All over NASA strongholds, disaffection from NASA supporters is riding quite high.
This, pundits warn, could quickly turn to dissent which will not augur well for the opposition outfit in its quest to resist President Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule.
Political analyst Martin Andati said a rethink strategy to win back the supporters is sound because they stand to lose.
“The postponement was an anti-climax for supporters after the much-hyped swearing-in. Lack of coherent communication from NASA on the issue is complicating the matter,” he told the Star.
Part of the strategy to win back its supporters is to form committees which will rope in MPS, MCAs from its strongholds to preach the NASA gospel to their people.
NASA also plans on holding mega rallies across the country.
This weekend, Raila has planned a retreat together with his co-principals, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka who is set to fly in from Germany.
The MCAs will be tasked with winning back support for NASA in the grassroot while MPs will do the same in their constituencies.
Mudavadi and Wetangula will then engage MCAs from four counties in Western Kenya with the aim of toning down disaffection in the region, a perceived NASA stronghold.
NASA supporters on Monday expressed disappointment in their leader for succumbing to pressure and called off the swearing-in.
They termed this an act of “cowardice”.
Sources, however, indicate that Raila’s wife, Ida Odinga was greatly opposed to this oath plan. She could not run the risk to losing her husband to the state after his incarceration for treason.
NASA also plans to poach Jubilee allied county assemblies to pass its People’s Assembly motion.
The county assemblies include Samburu, Narok, Wajir, Kajiado and Turkana.
So far, Mandera County Assembly which is led by a Jubilee Governor Ali Roba passed the motion, to the shock of the ruling party.
Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori, Vihiga, Busia, Kakamega, Mombasa, Machakos, Kwale, Bungoma and Kilifi, Kitui and Makueni county assemblies have already passed the motion.
Several opposition-allied MPs have tried to bridge the disaffection with emissaries on social media to their supporters.
Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias babu Owino postedonhis facebeook page: “Supporters should not give up. I know the journey seems longer than we expected but I assure you all that we are headed to Canaan & we will finally get there.”
ODM secretary of political affairs Opiyo Wandayi told the Star on Wednesday: “We are asking supporters not to worry, we know how they feel but definitely our principals will communicate on the swearing-in. A major announcement will be made soon.”