Stung by the possibility that ODM could break up, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is to go on a nationwide tour of Kenya to restore his personal prestige and popular support for his party.

ODM deputy leader and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has been quietly contacting MPs from western Kenya so that they do not join the mounting rebellion in the party. He hosted them to dinner on Wednesday night at his Riverside home and asked them to continue supporting Raila.

Mudavadi is himself facing a challenge from Rift Valley MPs who want him vacate his ODM position of Deputy Leader for Agriculture minister William Ruto.

Raila has a slim parliamentary majority with 105 MPs and could lose his position as Prime Minister if five or more ODM MPs withdrew their support. Rift Valley, which has been unhappy with his stand on the Waki report and Mau Forest, has 32 MPs. Most of them support Ruto who already threatened to walk out of ODM.

Sources in Raila's office at the Treasury and some of his long-term political advisers told the Nairobi Star yesterday that the ODM party leader will thank his supporters for standing by him in last year's election and appeal for their continued support.

"The message he will be delivering is that the struggle continues. He will not only explain what he has been doing since he joined Government but also why the party must remain united. The idea is re-establish a connection with the grassroots," said a senior official in Raila's office.

The first move in the mobilization strategy was to talk directly through Kass FM to the people of Rift Valley, which the PM did last week.

The second strategic move was this week's dinner meeting to revive the Pentagon, "cool the temperatures", and reaffirm Raila's commitment to the team that made him Prime Minister.

The third move is a prayer session in Mombasa tomorrow, which the ODM leader wants to use to revive his popularity there.

The next weeks and months will see Raila start visiting parts of Kenya that feel he has neglected them. The first destination will "certainly" be the Rift Valley, according to a Raila adviser.

His visit to Mombasa tomorrow is particularly important because party rival William Ruto was mobilizing support there earlier this week.

"The Coast leadership has been unhappy with the manner in which the PM has handled several issues including the Majimbo and Kenya Airports Authority. He will personally apologize to the leadership this weekend," said a Pentagon member.

Apart from discussing his style of leadership that has alienated many supporters, the PM will explain to the Coastals why he has been insisting that Waki report be implemented.

A press release from the Prime Minister's Press Service confirmed that the he will fly into Mombasa this weekend for a "thanksgiving ceremony".

"The Prime Minister has invited all ODM MPs to join him for Thanksgiving Prayers hosted by Coast MPs in Mombasa on Saturday. The thanksgiving prayers for the country and ODM (Coast) was meant for the region's MPs but in consultation with the Coast ODM MPs, the PM has sent out invitation to most of the region's leaders for the session to be held in Nyali, Mombasa," said a statement signed by spokesman Denis Onyango.

The meeting will be attended by area MPs, councillors and 20 party delegates from each of the 21 constituencies.

Raila's meeting comes less than a week after his party rival Ruto held a successful agricultural forum in Mombasa with councilors, MPs and civil servants.

The Coast leadership will reportedly ask Raila to explain why he has not fulfilled his election promise to re-introduce the Majimbo system of government.

Tourism minister Najib Balala and Kisauni MP Hassan Joho demanded this week at Ruto's agriculture meeting that ODM pushes for Majimbo in the new constitution.

Ruto supported the call for Majimbo and told the meeting that his position has not and will not change.

Yesterday, East Africa Development minister Amason Kingi, a close ally of Raila, said the Waki report was based on hearsay " that cannot even stand the test of a local tribunal". The minister said he would raise the issue with Raila on Saturday.

The PM's popularity at the C oast was damaged two months ago when he said the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) was a national asset whose top position could be led by anybody from any part of the country. His statement angered local leaders who demanded that the position go to a Coastal and government acceded by appointing James Mulewa.

Joho, the Coast Parliamentary Group organizing secretary, said he would attend the Saturday thanksgiving but would not say if he will remain loyal to Raila.

"We are still looking at how rough the sea is and whether the party is serious on implementing crucial promises it made in the region like the Majimbo system," said Joho yesterday

"I am an ODM MP and I was elected by my people on the Majimbo platform.

I am not allied to anybody but to my party and my people," said Joho.

Malindi MP and Vice chairman of CPG Gideon Mung'aro said although Coast MPs are yet to give their uniform verdict on the Waki report, "we must be cautious and look at where we are coming from".

He went on: "The implementation of a report that is based on hearsay and rumours can have devastating effects on this country. As much as we want end impunity in this country, we must be careful and cautious of the impact it can cause."

Msambweni MP Omar Zonga who is also an ODM legislator, also rubbished the Waki report and said its implications would be dangerous.

"We know why Kenyans fought and if we don't, that is what we need to be addressing, beginning with the electoral laws that made serious blunders. We need long-term solutions and not opening wounds and targeting individuals. We will tell the PM this on his face," said Zonga.

All the MPS agreed that the ODM election promise of Majimbo gave it majority of votes from the region so that it must be addressed quickly through the new constitution.