Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday declared that he was prepared to face the rebel MPs in ODM who are agitating for the formation of a grand opposition.

He added that the many years he spent in the opposition made him strong enough to face any political challenge.

With only hours left before Sunday's ODM party retreat in Naivasha, Mr Odinga said, "Nobody fears an opposition team because all these years we have been there. But we cannot allow our own team players to score in our goal."

Speaking at the Migori showground during a homecoming party for the area MP John Pesa, Mr Odinga reminded the ODM legislators that they were part of one team with similar aspirations and goals and cautioned them against pulling in different directions.

Differences

The party is expected to discuss emerging differences in the Orange party over the formation of a grand opposition among other things in Sunday's Naivasha retreat.

Party secretary-general Anyang' Nyongo said they would also deliberate on the date to hold party elections to comply with the Political Parties Act that comes into effect in January 2009.

Minister Dalmas Otieno who had accompanied Mr Odinga also told the PM's critics that "nobody was capable of taming the Langata MP".