Nairobi News

Cord leader Raila Odinga has hired two technocrats to join his growing team of political planners to jump start his much anticipated Presidential bid in the 2017 General Elections.

Mr Odinga has embarked on a marathon plan to map out a new strategy for his presumed final Presidential bid in 2017 against the incumbency of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The former Prime Minister’s handlers are however taking every step with care as Mr Odinga’s signal for a fresh stab at the Presidency has become a sensitive matter within Cord.

Mr Odinga has invited former Special Projects Permanent Secretary Andrew Mondoh to lead a team of administrative advisors at his private office.

Mr Mondoh’s appointment is seen as a response by Mr Odinga to pressure from his strategists to strengthen his campaign team in order to re-purpose his candidature for the Presidency.

Also coming on board is city based logistics expert Mr George Mboya whose mandate will be to re-engineer operations and re-organize the Okoa Kenya Secretariat also key to Mr Odinga’s 2017 bid.

Mr Mboya has come on board to the aide of Mr Carey Orege who is the head of the Okoa Kenya Secretariat and is expected to eventually join Mr Odinga’s new team currently under formation.

POLITICAL AMBITION

Political advisors in Mr Odinga’s team have recommended a total overhaul of the system around the former PM and replace it with less rigid and receptive personalities capable of designing a powerful political ideology and formula that can work for Mr Odinga in 2017.

“Yes I have come on board as an advisor largely on consultancy basis on matters administrative,” Mr Mondoh told the Daily Nation.

Mr Mondoh, who said he was not in a position to discuss the details of the appointment, said the responsibilities are tied to the political office of Mr Odinga.

Mr Norman Magaya who has been playing the role is expected to be restricted to the Cord Secretariat as Mr Mondoh takes over the core of administrative management at Mr Odinga’s office.

According to a source within ODM, several personalities identified as major obstacles to Mr Odinga’s political ambition will eventually be redeployed.

The management of Mr Odinga’s political affairs suffered after the exit of James Ongwae who left to vie for the Kisii gubernatorial seat leading to experimental choices now blamed for the failed Presidential bid in 2013.

“I have already joined the Okoa Kenya team and work is on. We are working well with team in bid to ensure the mission succeeds,” Mr Mboya said.