Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

KENYA: BRIBERY, NEPOTISM MANIPULATION OF VOTERS WHILE THE HIRED POLITICAL GOONS REIN SUPREME EVERYWHERE FEATURED PREEMINENTLY DURING THE MUCH FLAWED ODM PRIMARIES IN LUO-NYANZA.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

MASSIVE bribery of voters, political manipulation, nepotism and undercutting were the order of the day during the two days of the much flawed ODM primaries conducted inside Luo-Nyanza.

The outcome of the poorly conducted nomination primaries could spell doom to the presidential ambition of the ODM leader Raila Odinga, and perhaps ruins his chances of clinching the presidency come March 2013.

Failure to conduct credible and fair nomination primaries in many parts of the region has left many wounds in the hearts of the electorate who are left nursing the feeling that the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} and its enlarged CORD alliance lacked disciplinary of making credible nomination in its own.

According to the chairman of the ODM election board, Mr Franklin Kipng’etich Arap Bett, who is also the Roads Minister all the nomination exercise should have come to an end by |Midnight on Friday. However, by Saturday morning, the voting was still going on in some places, like Homa-Bay, Ndhiwa, Mbita Awendo, Nyando and Muhoroni in total defiance of the IEBC rules.

What is most interesting is that one of the newly created parliamentary constituency in Migori, Awendo never received even one single election materials include ballot papers and voting boxes.

Awendo had ten aspirants, each of the paid a nomination fees of Kshs 100,000 bringing it to a total of Kshs One Million. But the aspirants had waited from Day one, Day two, up to Day three, in vain without receiving any election materials.

In places where the voting took places, the polling stations were marred with acts of lawlessness such as stone throwing and destruction of the election papers. In some places the coordinators and returning and presiding officers were forced to flee the polling station as drunken bands of hired goon emerged from the nearby “Chang’aa drinking dens, settled on the election materials with kicks and destroyed even ballot boxes.

A number of Raila’s loyalists were floored and forced into exit. Other who survived did so narrowly, but with flurry of complaints from their rivals claiming they were shameless rigged in.

Raila’s own older brother Dr Oburu Oginga suffered heaviest defeat in his ambition to become the first governor of Siaya County, forcing the election coordinator a Ms Monica Amolo, a perennial parliamentary election loser in Ndhiwa to use mobile tallyng centers, which the voters in Siaya violently disputed as not “ very credible’.

Citing insecurity and safety of her team, Ms Amolo shifted from Siaya Town where she was supposed to announce the outcome of the governorship contest between Dr Oburu Oginga and the populist Paul Oduol and moved to Bondo,.The voters were, however, not amused and saw the move as one way of rigging Mr Oduoo votes. It actually happened, when the figures were turned upside down with new figures reading that Dr.Oburu Ogingsa had [polled 62,000 votes against Oduol’s 35,000 sparking off the strongest protest.

Fears now persist that with thousands of voters in the region dissenting the outcome of the ODM primary nomination, the likelihood massive fallout cannot be ruled out. Those voters who feel offended after being denied the right to choose their own representative could turn into a major rebellion and cast their voters to Raila Odinga’s rivals in the presidential race.

In Homa-Bay County, things were so bad that marauding political goons destroyed or burnt most of the election materials meant for the various constituencies in the region. These included ballot boxes and voting materials meant for Kabodo-Kasipul, Kasipul, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhiwa and Mbita.

In some places the goons beat up election officials and party leaders sensilessly. In Muhoroni within Kisumu County one man suffered serious knife stab and had to be rushed to Ombei Dispensary in Nyando district.

In Kisumu Town East, the outgoing Shakeel Ahmed Shabir had won his primary, But the rumor went round that the party bosses were in the process of issuing Shabbir’s rival a Mr. Micholas Oricho with the nomination certificate. This deadly rumor immediately raised political temperature in the violence prone Kisumu City.

In the contest for the lucrative and powerful position of the Kisumu County governor, the excessively arrogant Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Adhiambo Odinga became another casualities within the Odinga family She lost the governorship to the former senior accountant with the KRA Jack Ranguma who beat close to six other aspirant.

Ruth Odinga is the managing director of the Kisumu based Odinga family business flagship The Spectre International, which is managing the Kisumu Molasses.

This particular position was contested by among other aspirants Mrs Rhoda Ahonnobadha, former AFC regional manager for Nyanza and Western Provinces, the former cabinet Minister Ojwang’ K’Ombudo, Prof.Menya Kariaga, a senior lecturer in one of the US universities Dr. Barrack Abonyo, a Nairobi based business woman –cum-lawyer Atieno Otieno.

The outspoken Raila ‘s sister Ruth Adhiambo Odinga had been advised to abandon her ambition for the governorship by close friends and relatives, but she defiantly went on and contested the position fairing badly.

Other Raila casualties included the abrasive Nyatike MP Edick Omodi Anyanga, Uriri MP Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo who lost to a former Principal of the Kenya Railways Training School Eng. Kobado. Nyakach Mp Ochieng;’ Daima,Eng Philip Okundi, who contested Homa-Bay County governor, Raila’s cousing Jakoyo Midiwo, the gem MP

Other whose position remain unclear by late last night included Muhuroni Mp Patrick Ayiecho Olueny, Nyando MP Fred Outa who is married to Raila Oding’a cousin.

In Karachuonyo constituency also withinHoma-Bay County, the election loser ganged up hired drunken goons ws were heard singing derogatory songs saying No Adipo Okuome No Raila or Rege Must Go.

The song implying that without Adipo Okuome they voter would not votefor raila in his presidential bid on March 4, 2013.

This was so despite of the fact tat the outgoing MP Eng. James Rege had beaten his rivals hands down with a big margin.

ODM need to out its hoiu8se in order, and instill high discipline among the party youths.

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KENYA: ODM NOMINATION PRIMARIES IN NYANZA WAS A SHAM AND MOCKERY TO DEMOCRATIC TENETS AS IT WAS MARRED BY ACTS OF HOOLIGANISM AND POLITICAL THUGGERY

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THE just concluded ODM primary in many parts of Luo-Nyanza was a sham reflecting a political movement in crisis with its members.

It has since sparked off discontent and complaints which the party supreme at the headquarters should move with the snake speed and have the anomalies rectified before the March 4, 2013.

The primaries were marred by acts of hooliganism and political thuggery of the highest order. The marauding goons moving in groups of between 30 or more made it sure that no credible primary nomination took place.

The outgoing MPs from the region stand lamed for the lawlessness and criminal activities meted out by their supporters to the genuine voters who had turned out in their thousands ready to caste their votes and chose leaders who would take the community to the next level of development.

The voters in several parliamentary constituencies were in actual sense de-franchised and denied their rights of voting.

In the newly created Kabondo-Kasipul constituency in Rachuonyo South district, the ballot papers and other election material arrived late close to noon hour. But some of the aspirants, particularly the populist Hebert Ojwang’ had his name missing from the ballot papers.

In the neighboring Kasipul about 50 goons raided a polling station near Agoro-Sare High School within Oyugis Town and seized all the election materials. The goons sent the presiding officer and his entire team of election clerks fleeing for their dear lives.

Another bunch of hired political goons invaded five polling station in Kachien location, destroyed ballot papers and other election materials forcing the stations to be closed prematurely, though the election material had arrived late from Nairobi. Despite of high provocation, the voters persevered and continue voting into the late hours of darkness, but only for the goons to return again , ransacking the polling station n seized ballot boxes and destroyed them.

In Homa-Bay Town a presiding officer by the name Mulei was ambushed at 4.a.m and beaten senseless and left for the dead by un known goons.AS A RESULT BALLOT BOXES AND VOTING Election materials meant for for the neighboring constituencies of Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Homa-Bay Town, Rangwe and other places were displaced like Mbita, Ndhiwa, Gwassi .Homa-Bay Town, Rangwe and other places went missing. The region was later become awash with rumours of ballot papers being recovered mysterious at places like Kodiera, Mbita Junction .

Election materials which arrived in Mbita Town were found to be inadequate. However, the aspirants jointly reached a consensus after consultation to produce duplicates of the few ballot papers that had arrived late in the evening on the first day of the nomination. All the ballot papers and election material were kept at Mbita Town offices of the ODM. But the next morning the office was found to have been broken and all the material missing either destroyed with no trace.

The same goons are said to have set a blaze dozens of ballot boxes containing ballot papers in Ndhiwa Town not far away from the local |D.C’s office and got away scot-free with this heinous crime. The song was the same in Awendo and Rongo constituencies as well as in the neighboring Uriri, In all those places no voting took place on the first day. The reason being non-arrival of the elections materials and the election official having failed to turn up in time to serve the electorate.

Thousand of the would be enthusiastic voters who turned out in their thousands went home disappointed after waiting for the whole day with no election material on sight. The situation became so pathetic and the disillusioned and frustrated voters walked home.

From the looking of things it appeared as if all the outgoing MPs in Luo-Nyanza had conspired secretly with some top officials of the ODM at the Orange house, Nairobi and hatched a secret plan so the frustrated the outgoing MPs could maintain their status quo.

These anomalies were experiences in Siaya, Migori and all other places. In Siaya a vehicle packed with crude weapons were intercepted by police and close to 32 occupants nabbed.

IN Nyakach voting did not take place in five sub-location with over 3,000 registered voters, though the returning officer a Mr Okoth defiantly announced the result in favor of one of the aspirants. Similar incidents were evidence everywhere.

In some places even police and members of the Provincial administration appeared to have been compromised. They became toothless bulldogs and made no effort to prevent crime or any act which fueled violence in the polling stations.

What emerged was that political parties are not capable of organizing successful and credible nomination exercises in this country and the sooner political parties deliberated on this issue and found a solution the better.

The abrasive Raila Odinga’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo of Gem was one of the leading casualities and so was the Prime Minister own elder brother Dr. Oburu Ogings the Finance Assistant Minister whose bid to become the first governor of Siaya suffered the heaviest blow.

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Kenya: A voter in Homa-Bay County wants Minister Otoeno Kajwang’ to be barred from contesting any elective position on integrity

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A HOMA-BAY VOTER HAS WRITTEN TO THE LSK AND IEBC AND ASKED THAT IMMIGRATION MINISTER OTIENO KAJWANG IS UNFIT TO HOLD ANY PUBLIC OFFICE AND SHOULD BE BARRED FROM CONTESTING ANY ELECTIONS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

A Nairobi based firm of lawyers has written to the Law Society of Kenya {LSK} raising questions about Immigration and R4gistration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’s suitability to vie for public office given that he was struck off the Rolls of Advocates a couple of year ago.

The law firm is acting on behalf of a registered voter in Homa-Bay County Mr Edward Ochieng’ Otieno who raised eleven [11] point issues of complaints about the minister’s suitability to hold any elective office or the appointive one.

The law firm of Ekuru and Nyamuthwe company advocates wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of the LSK Apolo Mboya,and copied to the Attorney General the chairman of the LSK Eric Mutua, the chairman of the LSK, Mrs Gladys Shollei, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Franklin Bett, the chairman of the ODM Elections Board, the ODM, The party leader Raila Odinga, the ODM’s Secretary General Prof. Peter Anyang Nyongo’o, the leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, the leader of the Ford Kenya Moses Wetangula and the chairman of the Independent Electoral Boundary Commission [IEBC].

Observers in Kisumu and its environs were quick in pointing out that barring Otieno Kajwang’ from contesting the Homa-Bay Senate seat would dealt a heavy blow to the ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Kajwang’is believed t0 be Raila Odinga’s pointman, especially in the greater Southern Nyanza. He is currently the ODM Homa-Bay county branch chairman.

The action came about after the voter in question had learnt that the ODM headquarters had already cleared Minister Otieno Kajwang’ to participate in the party’s primaries on Thursday {17th January 2013].

The contentious letter states, ’We have been retained by Mr Edward Ochieng’ Otieno, a registered voter who seeks clarification on a number of issues pertaining to the Hon.Otieno Kajwang’.

In addition, our client wishes to bring to the attention of the Law Society of Kenyaevents that requires your attention. Thus we write to you as follows.-

{1} That in exercise of his civic duty as a registered voter in Homa-Bay County, Mr Otieno is keenly monitoring the extent to which the rule of law in respect of the above person {HON. Kajwang’] under the reference is being followed. This issue arises because of what has come to the fore that Hon. Kajwang’ has been struck off the Roll of Advocates and therefore a person not fit to hold, let alone applying for public office whether elective are appointive.”

[2} That to this very date, the Hon. Kajwang’ stands struck off the roll of Advocates and as such he is a dishonored member of the legal profession reason why he was removed from the Roll of honour of advocates in accordance with the enabling law.

The letter went on, ’Our client now requests for a confirmation from your offices whether Hon. Kajwang’can be said to be a member of the LSK in good standing? How many times has been struck off the Roll of Advocates?

{3} That it has come to our client’s attention that Hon.Kajwang’ has initiated from you whether indeed Hon. Kajwqng’ has initiate this process and who are the parties or institution presiding over the proces? a process to be reinstated into the Roll of Advocates. Our client seeks to know from you whether indeed the Hon. Kajwang’ has initiated the process and who are the parties or institution presiding over the process?

{4} That further to the foregoing our client seeks further to know the process that an Advocate who has been struck off the rolls of Advocates follow? Our client further seeks to know from you whether it is indeed that Hon. Kajwang’ has indeed initiated a process seeking to clear him to stand for elective office?

[5] Our client points out to you that the Hon. Kajwang’ now seeks to be elected as a member of the Senate to represent the County of Homa-Bay. Our client contends that Hon.Kajwang’ has initiated this process with the full knowledge that he has serious integrity issues on account of having been struck off the Roll of Advocates. This is convenient cleansing on his part that is intended to defeat chapter 6 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

{6] Our client is aware of the good role the LSK continues to play in issuing Clearance Certificates of good conduct and standing during the recruitment of its members to various public offices, interlia, the IEBC. Could you confirm to us whether you intend to follow the same process in clearing those seeking elective posts such as Hon. Otieno Kajwang’?

[7} Our client asserts that the LSK should guard the Constitution and refuse to allow the LSk to be used conveniently by those now seeking clearance to vie for elective posts. Our client contends that the Hon. Kajwang’n is a man whose integrity to hold public office is very wanting and cannot therefore be cleared by the LSK to stand for the Senatorial seat for Homa-Bay County.

{8}Our client observes that the Hon. Kajwang’ has conveniently initiated the process seeking to be restored to the Roll of Advocates. Our client contends that the requirement for public officers to demonstrate integrity is a gain in the new Constitution and the LSK should protect that gain at all costs.

{9} Our client further seek to know if it is indeed true that hon. Kajwang’ has appeared in the recent past before the Advocates Complaints Commission and whether he indeed apologized for having misappropriated clients money; reason why he was struck off the Rolls of Advocates in the first instance?

[10}It is true that the Hon. Kajwang’ on his own admission that he had stolen client’s money, what does the LSK plan to do with this confession on the part of Minister Otieno Kajwang?’. It is our client’s firm conviction for that Hon. Kajwang’ should be prosecuted forthwith.

[11} Our client urgently requires the information herein sought to enable him make a determination whether to proceed to court or not for reasons that our client is aware that the Orange Demcratic Mvement Party{ODM] plans to include the Hon. Kajwang’ as one of the candidates for the Senatorial seat for the Homa-Bay County.

It is our client’s firm conviction that Hon. Kajwang should not be cleared by the LKSK to stand for any public office until such time that he is properly retored into the Roll of Advocates.

Hon Oteno Kajwang’; could not be reached for his immediate comment over the issue, but the matter is increasingly becoming an election issue within the Homa-Bay County.

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East Afraca: Confusion over multiple memberships of EAC countries into several African trading blocs

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

IMPORTS into the East African Community countries from two key African trade blocs will continue to enjoying zero tariff for one more year.

With effect from January 1, 2013 imports from the Common Market for East and Southern Africa {Comesa} and the Southern African Development Community [Sadc] will continue enjoying preferential treatment courtesy of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004 which expired on December 30, 2012.

The chair person of the EAC Council of ministers Shem Bqrgeine recently moved to have the Bill amended as the EAC is yet to complete the negotiation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area [FTA] which would establish a market of 525 million people with an output of the USD One Trillion.

The TFTA is a grouping of 27 countries members of the Common Market for Eastern and southern Africa [Comesa}, and the Southern African Development Community [Sadc.

The Tripartite arrangement is expected to remove intra-regional trade distortions in the three regional groups of Customs, EAC and SADC.

Last month, EAC member states said the common external tariff will take effect in 2013.

The five member states signed a protocol establishing the EAC Customs Union and the Common External Trade [CET] in 2005.

The delay in establishing the CET and a single customs territory is hindering the free movement of goods, capital and people across member country borders, even though the common market protocol was officially launched in 2010.

However, the harmonization of trade deals between the EAC member countries remained complicated as long as countries belong to several different economic blocs.

BURUNDI FOR EXAMPLE IS A MEMBER OF Comesa, FTA, EAC the Comesa Free Trade Area {FTA}, the EAC and the Economic Community of Central African States {ECCAS], Kenya is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA, EAC and IGAD, Rwanda is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA, EAC and ECCAs,Tanzania is a member of SADC AND eac WHILE Uganda is a member of Comesa,Comesa FTA,EAC and IGAD.

This means that partner states apply different external tariff because of their membership in the different trade blocs.

According to the provisions of the EAC Customs management Act 2004, goods imported by the EAC partner states under Comesa and Sadc attract preferential tariff treatment as proscribed in each of the member states legislation.

For example, Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda charge tariff on all imports from SADC member countries, because they do not have a trade arrangement with the bloc. However, all SADC countries that are members of the Comesa are accorded preferential tariff treatment under the Comesa and EAc arrangement.

The issue of multiple membership is pushing up operational costs for business in East Africa. It is understood that the region’s business community is paying heavily, and losing money as a result of multiple membership because in some countries within the EAC when they ought to pay less in trade tariff, they are forced to pay more.

For instance, while Tanzania is trading with SADC using the rules of origins, goods imported from Sadc into Kenya, Rwandfa, Burundi and Uganda have to be charged according to EAC member countries, apart from Tanzania are 4xempted from an external tariff.

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Tanzania under heavy pressure from environmentalists to shelve its plan to construct an international airport inside the Serengeti world heritage site

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from Dar Es Salaam says the United Republic of Tanzania is facing renewed pressure to shelve the construction of an International Airport next to the world heritage and famous Serengeti National Game Park, creating fears of possible delays in the multibillion dollar project.

THE Deputy Transport Minister Charles Tizeba was last week widely quoted by the local media houses as saying that the construction of the airport outside the Serengeti National Game Park is likely to fail because of an on-going campaign by environmentalists to stop the project.

“The government is facing real pressure from some circles, but it will go ahead despite all these,’ he said.

The construction of the USD 350 million airports was expected to start early this year and the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority had approved the project, he added.

The government move to put up the airport included the construction of a 321 kilometer tarmac road through Serengeti. This element was shelved over the concerns that it would interfere with the wildebeest migration, the only one of its kind in the world and crucial to the existence of the Serengeti ecosystem.

The friends of the Serengeti movement have repeatedly denounced having an airport so close to the world heritage site, saying it would attract human activities near the fragile Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Opponents of the project have maintained an argent saying that the landing and takeoff of large planes in Mugumu could damage wildlife migration patterns.

“The new airport”, said the Minister, “would offer tourists the option tour KilimanjaroIntrnational Airport and after visiting Tarangire.LakeManyara, Ngorngoro Crater and SERENGETI International Airport to fly back homer”.

Analyists,however, say the airport would increase the number of visitors from 800,000 annually to 1.6 million by the year 2015 and double tourism revenue from the current USD 1.4 million to USD 2.8 million annually in the next three years.

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KENYA: MINISTER DALMAS OTIENO”S MOTORCADE CAME UNDER HALE OF STONES AMID ACCUSATIONS BY ODM ASPIRANTS IN MIGORI COUNTRY THAT HE HAD HATCHED A DICTATORIAL PLAN OF DISHING OUT DIRECT NOMINATIONS CERTIFICATES TO THE PREFERRED CANDIDATES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town

The on going electioneering campaign by people who are vying for various elective position in ODM tickets had become the sources of discontent in many parts of Luo-Nyanza with aspirants vying for the various elective positions within Migori County have accused Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Service of gross interference in what could otherwise be a smooth and peaceful elections campaigns in the region ahead of next week’s ODM nomination exercise.

Earlier this week Minister Otieno ‘s convoy of several sleek campaign vehicles had come under halls of stones, a clear indication that things are not moving smoothly in favor of the Minister who is also the incumbent Rongo MP, and who is defending his parliamentary seat.

The Minister was driving back to his Rongo rural home after addressing a series of campaign rallies at Kamgundho, Cham-Gi-Wadu when rowdy and drunken youths hurled stones to his motorcade.

The symptoms that the Minister is not all that a comfortable man even at his family level is the fact that his elder son Jared Oteno aged 46 is among the aspirants who have signed a statement requesting the ODM headquarters at the Orange House to instill some amount of discipline to the Minister.

The aspirants want the ODM to stop his plan of dishing out nominations certificates to certain preferred candidates a head of the ODM nomination exercise schedule for January 17, 2013.

The protest by ODM aspirants came about after Dalmas Otieno had released a press statement detailing how all elective positions will be dished out in Miori County. The statement has it that the position of Miogori governor would go to Prof. Edward Akong’o Oyugi, while the deputy governor positions will go to Zachary Okoth Obado, and the Senator seat will go to Dr Walter Machage the current MP for Kuria.

The aspirants have said that Dalmas Oteno ha no constitutional mandate of giving direct nomination to any aspirants and they insisted that all the aspirants irrespective of their status within the society should be subjected to open, fair and just nomination. They termed Dalmas Otieno’s action “dictatorial and mockery to the democratic principles.

The Minister’s own son Jared Otieno is among those contesting for the Migori governor seat and he is in a different and parallel election campaign camp.Jared Otieno launched his campaign last Sunday with pop and pageantry in Migori town.

He has since been tearing into his father’s private life and questioning the Minister’s integrity as a leader. While the Minister is reported to have disowned his son in private, but never uttered any tired vitriols against his son publicly, and the campaign by the two against each other is drawing a lot of interests in the region and could weaken the ODM voting strength unless the party acted with speed and have the sanity restored.

The Senate seat has also attracted the former Mathare MP Ochieng’Mbeo who has twice served as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, John Magaiwa,the ODM Migori County branch chairman,Prof. Chacha Nyaigoti. One of the aspirants who got disgusted Phrares Oluoch Kanindo a one time two terms MP for the large Homa-Bay constituency has since pulled out in anger and declared that he would contest the Senate seat as an independent candidate.

Many other aspirants on ODM tickets in Migori County said they would consider ditching the party unless Dalmas Otieno is disciplined by the ODM head office.They are arguing that the Minister is contradicting the party’s declared policy that nobody would be given a direct nomination,a stand which the Prime Minister RailaOdinga has persistently reiterated many times make it quite clear that no such a thing will happen and that all must go to the ballot boxes to determine the winner.

The protest note was signed by one Paul Abuor who is perceived to be a Dalmas Otieno’s protégé and who is an aspirant in Rongo parliamentary seatand Jared OtIeno the Minister’s own sons.

The stoning of the Minister’s vehicles came in the wake and after only a week after another aspirant for the governor position Mrs Anne Omodho Anyanga had her cart windscreen smashed by rowdy youths suspected to be supporters of Dalmas Oteno I Rongo Town. The youth roughed up Mrs Anyanganga who is the wife of the Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga,who has mounted the most elaborate campaign using a hired chopper.

Mrs Anyanga, who was traversing the entire Rongo constituency, had landed at Rongo Primary School, which is allocated inside main Rongo market.

Market and a crowd rushed to the scene where she was addressing a huge crowd which had formed itself instantly at the places .
.
The youth were shouting “Gonywa Gonywa” and menacingly demanding that she give the money, but sensing the danger of her persona l safety Mrs Anyanga jumped into her vehicle which drove to the Choper.The chopper took off amid hails of stones thrown to it in the air by the youth.

Looking shaken Mrs Anyanga flew out of Rongo and landed in some other places within the constituency like Opapo, Ranen, Kodero Bara, BUT SCATHINGLY CONDEMNED THE INCIDENT , WHICH SHE SAW AS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCRIMINATE THE GENDER AND WOMEN FROM CONTESTING PUBLIC OFFICES.

ENDS

Kenya: Nairobi based business magnate has joined the race for Awendo seat causing great panic among other aspirants

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

The latest entry into the contest, for the newly created Awendo parliamentary constituency, of a Nairobi based business magnate, Walter John Owino Sirawa, has sent a half a dozen or so parliamentary hopefuls into great panic.

Owinoi Sirawa entry into the Awendo race has hit the ground with thud forcing his rivals into resorting to unorthodox means including character assassination

Sirawa is the managing director of Gillies Security Guards. His entry into the race has drastically changed the contest while his popularity has hit the region like Tsunami. His candidature has attracted a large following by the youths and women folks within Awendo Town and its environs.

Walter Owino photo photograph of Walter John Owino Sirawa

Within only a week or so Mr.Sirawa’s campaign trail has hit the sugar cane growing region like thunderstorm attracting the attention of the usually marginalized and manipulate sugar cane growers in the area.

Sirawa told this writer by phone that his vision for the Awendo residents is to thrive for the unity of purpose of all the stakeholders without discrimination based on clanism.

His other visions include youth empowerment through training for self sustenance and fighting for the rights of cane farmers.

Also to be given priorities under his leadership is women economic, empowerment – strengthening women groups. Poverty eradication, better educational facilities, good feeder and access roads and the stamping out of the menace of cattle rustling in the region.

Other priorities included economic infrastructure such rural electrification. He will thrive to ensure that the residents get good and clean water for health in their homes.

Other priorities include taking care of the old and aged people and ensure that they enjoyed the government funds, To protect and assist the boda-boda motorbike and bicycle riders.

His other priority will be to ensure that Awendo has a well equipped technical school and village polytechnics in all the five administrative locations that makes the constituency. And to facilitate funds for the assistance of both primary and secondary school teachers to pursue their further academic ambition and to work close with the teachers to ensure their welfare.

Insecurity in Awendo and its environs will get top priority so that the residents of the agricultural rich rural constituency could go about their daily business without being molested by criminal thugs. On CDF projects, he said there will be zero corruption.

During his tenure as the MP for Awendo, Sirawa said he would work hard in collaboration with the NGOs, all registered farmers’ primary co-operative societies, and civil servants, in order to expedite development activities in the region.

He challenged his rivals to get prepared for a bruising election contest, to stop panicking or getting involved in unorthodox and cowardly crude methods of undercutting through character assassination.

He an ODM stalwart and life member who had been dong everything in promoting the party in the region and appealed to the residents to vote as a bloc for the Prime minister Raila Odinga to realize his presidential ambition come March 2013.

Sirawa is facing five other aspirant who included the former KRA top official Jude Ayieko, a former Gamba High School Principal Jared Kopiyo, and executive with the NGO Eric Oyoo, Joseph Owuor who is the PA to Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Services.

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from: ” . . . gillyssecurity . . . ”
Sent: Monday, 7 January 2013, 17:02
Subject: Fwd: Picture for Walter Owino

Mr Leo,

Trust you are well, we spoke earlier. Please find attached my photo.

My vision for Awendo people are outlined below,

1 Unity of purpose for Awendo people (no clan discrimination)

2. Youth empowerment through training for self sustenance

3. Fighting for the rights of farmers

4. Women empowerment – strengthening women groups.

5. Infrastructure – roads/electricity.

6. Clean water for all homes

7. Good health care for all

8. Care for the old – funds for the aging elders

9. Road safety – Boda boda riders welfare

10. Equitable college, high schooland primary school bursary for students

11. improve school infrustructure

12. Have a technical institution in Awendo

13. Have a university college in Awendo

14. Assist teachers pursue further studies

15. Improve teachers morale.

16. Empower widows,orphans, people with disabilities & special interest groups.

17. CDF projects for all – ZERO discrimination.

18. Improve security for all.

19. Collaborating with NGOs/civil societies to improve livelihood for the people of Awendo.

regards
Walter.

KENYA: UDF IS A TRUE REPLICA OF THE DEFUNCT kadu AND IS OUT TO CAUSE CHAOS AND POLITICAL MAYHEM

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Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo

READING about who is who among the leading political personalities and UDF supporters who converged at the party’s delegates conference in Nairobi and endorsed the Hon. W Musalia Mudavadi as the party’s flag-bearers in the 2013 presidential race, I am not amused in saying that this purely a Neo-KADU.

Those who have lived in this country long enough like myself, especially during the colonial area and the pre-independence days politics of the late 1950s and early 1960s will agree with me in principles that the UDF is a replica of the defunct Kenya African Democratic Union {KADU].

The UDF has truly balkanized all the Kenya tribes and communities which had supported KADU and collaborated well with the white settlers in a conspiracy to cause the delays in the attainment of Kenya’s political independence, which eventually was ushered in by KANU in 1963.

In the forefront of KADU were the late Ronald Gideon Ngala a Griama from the Coast Province, Henry Masinde Muliro a Bukusu from Western Province, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi a from Tugen sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups and Taaitta Araap Towett, a diminutive Kipsigis politician from the South Rift.

The UDF is therefore a true replica of the defunct KADU because it has amalgamated of Kenya’s tribes and communities which had a very negative attitudes toward the politics of true nationalism and patriotism. These communities have gone down in the history of Kenya as those who had collaborated well with the die-hard white settlers and colonialists, which were vehemently opposed to the country’s liberation and the struggle for independence.

The communities which I mentioned above had ganged up with the white settlers who were heavily funding KADU with intention, aims and objectives of delaying the Kenya’s political independence under the pretext that they were representing the marginalized minority groups.

They were the blue-eyed boy of the white settlers and colonialists who had hatched a secret plan to make Kenya a dominion country under the British Empire like Southern Rhodesia, New Zealand,Canada,Australia, and the defunct Central African Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland then under the white settlers Prime Minister Sir Roy Welensky.

Kenya was then viewed as a Whiteman’s country and its fertile highlands christened The White-Highland. The collaborating KADU politicians dined and whined in high places and five star hotels in Nairobi with the white supremacists, led by the late Group Captain L.R. Briggs of the whites only United Kenya party, the late Sir Michael Blundell of the multiracial Kenya National Party, which was later late transformed into the New Kenya Party.

The conspiracy against nationalism began in earnest immediately after the British Colonial Office in London lifted the state of emergency and lifted the restriction on the formation of the countrywide Africans political movement. Hitherto Africans were only allowed to form district political associations. But immediately after the first round table constitutional conference, which was held in the Lancaster House in London from Fabruary 1960 to April the same year.

This saw the birth of the Kenya African National Union [KANU} AT Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu on June 30th 1960. Ngala, Moi, Muliro were conspicuously missing at the meeting that witnessed the formation of KANU in Kiambu. However, Taaita Arrap Towett was present, though he was roughed by KANU youths.

But within two weeks thereafter, the three Ngala Muliro, Moi and Towett with the help of the colonial administration and white settlers brought together the Maasai United Front then led by David Lemomo, The Towettled Kalenjin political Alliance led by Taaitta Toweett, Mombasa African Democratic Union [MADU] led by F.J.Khamisi, Coast African People Union [CAPU] led by one D.N.Korokoro and Msanifu Kombo and other Coastal politicians like Apollo Kilelu, S.Roggers Msechu

And that came the birth of KADU.Ngala Muliro and Moi declined the position offered them in KANU during the party’s inception at Kiambu.But readily accepted the positions allocated to them in KADU.

This is exactly how Mudavadi, Eugene Wamalwa, Gideon Moi,Nick Salat and others have been behaving since the clamor for the formation of political alliances

The only Rift Valley politicians who stood firm and remained steadfastly with other early nationalists were Danile Moss of the Mount Elgon District Congress and John Marie Seroney.

The late James Samuel Gichuru was made the first President of KANU on interim capacity while awaiting for the release of the late Jomo Kenyatta from the colonial detention and restriction camps in the northern

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was made the vice president of KANU while Tom Mboya was named the party’s secretary general. The trio had the backing of other true nationalists like Julius Gikonyo, Kiano,

Dr Mungai Njoroge,Josef Stanley Mathenge, Eric Edward Khasakhala, J.D.Otiende,Mohinga Chokwe, Eliud Ngala Mwendwa, Mister Mister Arap Korir, Christopher Kiprotich Arap Murei,William Mbolu Malu,George Nthenge F.J Mukeka and others.John Kebaso, Washington Ondicho, Lawrence George Sagini,James Nyamweya and others who stood firm and steadfast with KANU and flatly refused to be manipulated by the colonialists and white settlers.

The coming weeks will certainly rove the like of Wamalwa, Mudavadi, Khalwalewrong when Kenyans would be deciding as to which group is best suited tor the Amani Group, Jubilee or CORD. However, all the indications are that CORD would overcome the two other groups which are full of masters of political deceits. I am really sorry and sympathized with Musalia Muadavadi and wondered why should the son of my old friend the King of MululuMoses Sabstian Budamba Mudavadi should be prone to political conmen and miss the boat once again as he missed in 2002.

In this context, I am not ashamed to say that politics of tribal balkanization has no room in the modern day Kenya. Therefore the time for reflection will come soon and those who are there simply to protect their status quo and stood on the way of political reforms in this country will be taught a good lesson that they will live to regret for the rest of their lifetime.

I also beg to request the Hon Najib Balala the Mviuta Mp to correct a statement which he uttered during the TNA/URP alliance rally at the Tononoka ground in Mombasa recently touching on the horny issue of land redistribution at the coast and redress against the injustices committed against the coastal communities over their ancestral land.

Could Hon Balala be more specific and honest to tell us who owns the Taita Concessions Limited, the TaitaSisal Estate,at Mwatate which is measuring close to 36,000 hectares of land. How about rhe Ziwani Sisal Estate in the neighborhood near Mwakitau,

How about the ownership of \Jipe Sisal Estate, Taveta Sisal Estate and 0ther prime land at the coast. It is high time those defending impunity be told in a clear cut-sort of terms that Kenyans are tired of leaders whose families are associated with land grabbing.

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KENYA: THE ATTACK AND STONING OF MIGORI WOMAN ASPIRANT HAS SPARKED OFF WHOLESALE CONDEMNATION BY THE REGIONAL LEADERS WHO CALLED FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN AND GENDER RESPECT.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

ODM LEADERSHIP IN Migori County have come out in full force and severely criticized those who hatched the heinous criminal attack on one of the aspirants aspiring for the powerful position of Migori County governor.

Mrs Anne Omonndi Anyanga who is vying for the position of Migori County governor was attacked in Rongo Town by rowdy youth suspected to be supporters of the Public Service Dalmas Otieno, who is also the incumbent Rongo MP.

The goons tore into pieces the T-Shirts bearing her portrait, which she had just been distributing to the electorate for free. THey demanded that she give them the money, shouting “Gonywa Gonywa”.

Sensing the danger of her personal safety Mrs Anyanga dashed to her waiting car, which drover her to safety amid hails of stones, one of which hit her car front windscreen.

Mr Omomndi Anyanga, who is the wife of Nyatatike MP Edick while on her campaign trail flew into Rongo Town and landed at the nearby Rongo Primary School which is located in the middle of the Town.

Her arrival had coincided with another political function which was taking place at the nearby Kuja School of the Deaf and Blind.On seeing the Chopper huge crowd of people who were attending the function, in which the area MP was launching his campaign in defense of his Rongo seat surged forward and dashed towards Mrs Anyanga’s Chopper.The crowd abandoned Dalmas Oteno’s meeting and went to the venue where the Chopper had landed.

Some of the rowdy youth looked excessively intoxicated with chang’aa and menacingly demanded that Mrs Anyanga give them the money.

Looking disappointed Mrs Anyanga condemned political thuggery saying some people appeared to be hell-bent on intimidating her. She asked his rivals to respect democracy and gender.She defiantly flew to other places like Opapo. Kodero Bara, Rakwaro and Raneni and continued with her campaign.

It was learnt immediately that the eldest son of the Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno Fred Otieno was also simultaneously launching his campaign for the same position of Migori governor at a different function held in Migori Town.

Mrs Anyanga has been traversing the entire Migori County in the last two weeks using rented helicopter, which has taken her to many places inlcuding the two Kuria district of Kuria East and Kuria west, Nyatike, Uriri ,Rongo and Awendo while conducting roadside shows and public rallies.

SHe is facing one of the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edqward Oyugi Akong’owho is perceived to be Raila Odinga’s closest friends and political adviser for the same seat. Prof Akong’Oyugi launched his campaign in Migori town last week, but it attracted only a paltry crowd.

Other candidates included the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edward Akong’o Oyugi, who is perceived to be a close friend of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and political advisor. The Prof. Oyugi was among the radical politicians who were detained for many years by the former Moi’s Nyayo regime for radical political activities.

Prof Oyugi who hails from Suna West launched his campaign officially last week in Migori town, but the function attracted only a paltry crowd. Other aspirants included the Kenya Sugar Board Awendo zonal director Zachary Okoth Obado who hails from North Kanyamkago in Urirri district who appeared to be the darling for the majority of sugar cane farmers in the region.

Also in the race is the youthful senior manager with the Airtail in Nairobi Mark Nyamita who hails from Central Kanyamkago in Uriri district whose candidature appeared to have attracted many youths.

However, Mrs Anyanga who is a business woman in Nairobi seemed to be the strongest and serious contender and someone to watch.

The late entry of Dalmas Otieno’s son Fred Otieno for the same position is likely not to alter anything significantly among the gains already secured by both who have been on the ground longer than one year.

Rumor making the round within Awendo and Migori as well as in Rongo is that Fred Otieno is not enjoying the political goodwill and patronage of his father Dalmas Otienm and as such his candidature is expected to make very little impact

Mrs Anyanga therefore stands the better chance of clinching the Migori governor steas, because she is the only aspirant from the votes-rich Nytatike constituency, whereas the majority of aspirants are people from Urirri and Migori constituencies.

Among those politicians who strongly condemned the attack on Mrs Anyanga is Eng.Phillip Odero Makabong’o who is contesting the Rongo parliamentary seat against Dalmas Otieno.Makabong’o appealed to the ODM headquarters to instill the highest standard of discipline including disqualification of those candidates found to be promoting war-mongering and political thuggery. He condemned the use of political goons to intimidate opponents by some politicians in the areas.

Dalmas OItieno could not be reached for his immediate comments about the attack on Mrs Anyanga by goons suspected to be his supporters in Rongo town.

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KENYA: ANOTHER HIGH ACADEMIC PROFILE WOMAN JOINS THE RACE FOR KISUMU WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE SEAT.

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REPORTS Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Kisumu County Women Representative position has attracted another high profile aspirant in the name of Dr.Rose Kisia Omondi a senior lecturer at the Moi University Eldoret.

Dr Kisia-Omondi who is commonly known as Nyar-Suba, grew up in Awendo town and its environs. She is married to another University lecturer Dr. ndi from lower Nyakach Kabondho.

Rose kisisa Omondi; Kisumu_rep.jpg
photo of Dr.Rose kisisa Omondi

She is the second woman to show interests in the seat and will face it up with the moneyed Mrs Nyamunga, from Kano Plains and the wife of the former Nyando MP Eng. Eric Opon Nyamunga who is also a business tycoon in Kisumu Town.

Dr Rose Kisia Omondi took her early education at Sare Primary School in Awendo Town before moving to Ogande Girls High School , which is located near Homa-Bay Town.

She is the holder of the PHD degree in management and economics {NZ}, MBA which she obtained from the University of Wales in the UK, Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi.

Dr Rose Kisia-Omondi said she has travelled extensively all over the world and gained sufficient experience, which if elected to be one of the next Women Representative in parliament she could put into good use for the purpose of poverty eradication.

THe vision, she declared is to give the people of Kisumu County whose population is now close to 900,000 the most effective representation and leadership which is based on action oriented.

She told this writer that Kiksumu has a lot of potentiality for economic growth, citing Lake Victoria and its resources, fishing industry, cash crops production such as sugar cane, horticulture.

The land in this region , she said is fertile and could be used to produce a lot of cash crops.And now that the Kisumu Airport is expanded to accommodate bigger planes, it could be used in exporting horticultural products to Europe and destination directly.

Dr Kisia –Omondi said she is a life member of the ODM and she is a social democrat who believes in the democratic principles as well as in equity and fairness and social justice for all.

Dr.Kisia Omondi has appealed to all those contesting various elective seats in the region to conduct their campaign in peaceful manner while respecting the law of the land.

She challenged her opponent to speak less, but to think hard how the abject poverty could be eradicated and whipped out of the region through concerted efforts.

Dr. Kisia Omondi is the younger sister of the long-serving KNUT EXECUTIVE SECRETQARY FOR Migori district, the late MijunguKisia.

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KENYA: THREE LUO CABINET MINISTERS GOT RUDE AND SHOCKING MIXED RECEPTION IN THEIR CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN SIAYA AND HOMA-BAY COUNTIES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THREE Luo Ministers got a rude and shocking reception in Siaya County over the weekend after they were accused of killing the democratic space which Kenyans have fought for many years.

The Ministers James Aggrey Orengo {Lands} Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ {Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister and Dr. Oburu Oginga who is the Finance Assistant Minister had gone to Sega Town in the Ugenya constituency to drum up the support for Dr. Oburu Odinga who is vying for the Siaya County governor.

Close to 2,000 delegates from all over the six parliamentary constituencies within Siaya County attended the meeting, but flatly refused to be coerced to endorse Dr. Oburu Oginga as the sole ODM candidate for the lucrative and powerful position of Siaya County governor.

Dr. Oburu Oginga is facing a Siaya business man William Oduol in a two men horse election race for the same position. The rowdy delegates made life difficult for the Minister and MPs accompany them. At one point one of the enraged delegates stood up and grabbed the microphone from Minister Orengo raising tension as the delegates engaged in the shouting match drowning the Ministers voices.

The delegates were arguing that there be no sacred cow and that all the aspirants interested in contesting various elective seats should be cleared by the ODM for the electorate to finish their work at the ballot boxes come March 4, 2013.

Present at the meeting were Rarieda MP Eng Nicholas Gumbo, Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Ochieng Yinda, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo.

The same shouting match was witnessed when the Ministers and MPs moved out of Sega Primary School ground and moved to Ugunja Town for the public rally.

Meanwhile in Homa-Bay County three prominent Luo politicians vying for the various elective seats launched their campaign officially at the different venues.

The first to launch his campaign for the contest for the position of Homa-Bay County governor was Cyprian Otieno Awiti, the retired former Country Director of Marrie Stoppie Clinics. Awiti’s colorful launching was graced by the secretary-General of COTU {K} Francis Atwoli.

After the launching Awiti drover in a convey of close to 50 motorcade and snaked around Gwassi constituency, visited Kisegi, Sindo and Magunga,God-Bura, Nyandiwa before sailing across the Mbita Channel to Mfangano Island using Mbita Ferry.

On Sunday Awiti attended the Sunday Mass and prayers at the Mausoleum of the Late Tom Mboya near Matenga Beach in Kamasengre , Rusinga West in Mbita constituency.He addressed a public rally at Kolunga Beach in Kamasengre. He later toured Wanyama, Utajo fish landing beaches in Rusinga East Location and Mbita town where he addresses huge crowds of enthusiastic supporters.

Awiti and his entourage crossed the MBITA Channel on Monday and moved to Osodo Primary School in Kamireri and at luanda in Gembe Location before moving to Lambwe West and Lambwe East location within Mbita constituency.

On the mainland, Awiti’s arch-rival for the same position Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi conducted a marathon road-show which took him around Homa-Hills in West Karachuonyo before addressing a huge crowd at PALA Market in KANJHIRA IN Karachuonyo constituency.

The Immigration and Registration of Persons Gerald Oteno Kajwang’ who is vying for the Homa-Bay Senate seat also took his team to a road-show.

He officially launched his campaign at Rodi-Kopany about 8 kilometers outside homa-Bay town. His Caravan snakes out of Rodi Kopany and drover through Rangwe town before heading to \ndiru in Kagan Location before reaching Oyugis town where he addressed a huge crowd.

Kajwabng’’s trip, however, was not all that smooth. He encountered booing and heckling by rowdy youths at Rodi Kopany, who were believed to be the supporters of his rival Hilary Ochieng’Alila. The youth engaged the Minister in shouting match asking him to explain the reason why he had abandoned his Mbita parliamentary seat after representing the area for close to 17 years.

In Rangwe Town the Minister met with a hostile crowd of youths shouting the names of Hilary Ochieng’Alila and urged the Minister to move out of the place because they did not want him.

Minister Kajwang’, however, was well received at Oyugis Town where he addresses a huge crowd of people and urged them to elect reliable and credible leaders who would deliver the goods and alleviate poverty in the region.

From the looking of things, Awiti appeared to be having the upper hand in his bid to capture the Homa-Bay County governorship seat. He appeared to have captured the Suba region as well as Ndhiwa constituency well ahead of his opponents.

Homa-Bay County is covering seven parliamentary constituencies which included Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul and is the largest County in the region.

Other aspirants or the governor position included Prof.Akeyo Omolo of the Maseno University, while the Senate seat appeared to be a two horse race between Kajwang’and the youthful Nairobi based business tycoon Hilary Ochieng’Alila whose popularity has hit the region with thud like thunderstorm.

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Kenya: Migori ODM MPs may retain their seats due to varied reasons

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The forthcoming general election could produce the shocking and surprise results for some of the parliamentary hopefuls in some of the electoral constituencies.

There Are clear indications on the ground that the four MPs who inckluded Dalmas Otieno [Rongo}{ John Pesa{Migori} Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike} and Cyprian Ojwang’Omolo would be much comfortable in the defence for their seats due to varied reasons.

The Migori County has received two extra additional parliamentary seats, which were created by the IEBC and endorsed by an act of Parliament. The new electoral areas included Awendo which was curved out of the old Rongo and Migori West which was curved out of the old Migori constituency.

The two Migori constituencies will now share the voters in the vote rich Migori town in two halves.

The new parliamentary boundary alignment has placed the incumbent John Pesa virtually in Migori East.

Pesa will now face it off with the frmer Migori MP Charles Oyugi Owino {Jalikowa}, a Nairobi businessman Peter Jobando, One Ogutu and other. appeared to be comfortable in his effort to retain the seat. He has a very attractive track record of fair and equitable disbursement of the CDF and other government revolving fund meant for the development of Migori constituency and is expected to sail through with a lot of easiness.

In the neighboring URIRI Constituency, the incumbent MP is the colorless Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo the man who never made his maiden speech in the 10th parliament, perhaps due to humble primary school academic background.

Ojwang’ Omolo, however, might escape the wrath of the voters and return to parliament due to lack of any credible and effective opponent at the constituency level.

He is facing no serious challengers among the from half dozen of aspirants vying for the seat.

His strongest challenger is Eng Kobado a former Principal, of the Railways Training School who hails from Kanyamkago Central and is considered as an indigent. Another rival who is posing threat to Cyprian Omolo is Dr.Ongwara, who reuns a medic training school in Kisumu. Dr Ongwara, however, is considered as an outsider.He is an immigrant from Karachuonyo, only recently settled in the area ,and lacked the clans’ backing in Uiriri. He is also being accused of associating himself with political goons. He is always in the company of drunken political hecklers.

Another aspirant vying for Uriri seat is a Nairobi based accountant by profession John Boby Awiti-Otange. But the candidate seemed to be much of urbanized character, though highly intelligent and enlightened, his candidature has yet to pick up and attract large following.

Another Mombasa based business tycoon Paul Odhiambo is also in the race, but he is being accused of feeding rowdy youths with Chang’aa. He too has yet to make any impact in the constituency. He has yet to make an impact and developed sufficient following, though he is relying on his d

All the indications are that Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo could easily retain his seat due to lack of any credible and strong challenge.dominant Kawere sub-clan of the Jo-Kanyamkago group.

IN the neighboring Awendo constituency which is also new and was curved out of the old Rongo, six aspirants will battle it out. They included the former senior KRA official Jude Ayieko, Seth Okoth, Fred Kopiyo the former Principal og \gasmba High School, Eric Oyoo an executive with an NGO in Mombasa, John Walter Sirawa, the manager of Gillies Security Company, Dr Abwao, and Joseph Owuor, the current Personal Assistant to |Dalmas Otieno, the Minister for Public Service and others.

Awendo constituency politics are based on Sugar Cane and tobacco farming. The agriculturally rich area has the potential of becoming the hubs of food production in the region.However, farmers tend to lay great emphasize in cane farming for quick return of money

In Rongo it is yet to be made clear whether the incumbent Dalmas Otieno is gong to defend his seat or not, but there are a large number of aspirants vying for the same seat. They included Eng.Phillip Odero Makabong’o, Mr Abuor Ojwando and others.

Reports emerging from Nyatike constituency says the incumbednt Edick Omodi Anyanga, could easily retain his seat wing to his attractive track of development and lack of the resourceful opponent.

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Kenya: Olago Aluoch is facing defeat by Mrs Rosa Buyu in Kisumu Town West parliamentary contest

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Kisumu CITY, which in the year 1969 set the political history by voting in the first woman who was popularly elected MP, is set to repeat the same history by voting a woman to Parliament under the new constitutional dispensation.

In 1965 the lake side town picked Mrs Grace Aketch Onyango as the first woman Mayor in Kenya. The City repeated the same achievement by voting overwhelmingly in favor of Mrs Grace Aketch Onyango as the first woman MP in the 1969 general election on a KANU ticket. Mrs Onyango thereafter represented Kisumu for the next 22 years.

From the face of things Mrs Rosa Buyu, a Nairobi-based business woman who has a family root in Bondo like the previous MP Grace Onyango, is set to become the next MP for Kisumu Town West under the newly realigned parliamentary constituency which was curved out of the Kisumu Toiwn West, now Kisumu Central.

The incumbent MP is John Olago Aluoch, a prominent Kisumu lawyer. In 2007 Mrs Buyu is believed to have beaten Olago Aluoch hands down during the ODM nomination, but her she was robbed of election victory through rigging by some ODM operatives who wanted to sideline her because of her family relations with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. However, Odinga remained non-committed and neutral through out the hotly contest ODM election battle between Buyu and Aluoch.

Rosa Buyu is the daughter of Kisumu business magnate the late Mzee Parick Onyango Ochang, the former proprietor of the Nyataya Bus Company. Her father for many years was the confidant of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

The new regional Kisumu west constituency now comprises exclusively rural locations which were previously included in the Kisumu Rural constituency and part of Kisumu town and its environs like Nyahera, Ojola, Chula-Yimbo and Karateng’ and Kiboswa.

The majority of the residents of these rural Locations are the indigenous people jo-Kisumo.Although Mrs Buyu has a family root in Bondo, she is married to a Mr Randiak of Kadawa Kisumo near Holo market. Her mother in-law Mrs Dorothy Randiek is the former trusted sister of the late Roberet John Ouko, the slain former Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation who died in February 1990.

The residents of these rural locations are the indigenous jo-Kisumu, while the outgoing MP Olago Aluoch is a member of the Jo-Kanyakwar an immigrant clan whose roots could be traced in Alego Siaya.

An eloquent speaker in both English and Dho-Luo vernacular, Mrs Buyu is a graduate of Nairobi University is so popular with rural folks and women as well as youth. She is a resourceful and generous lady who is reported to have been assisting many families in distress and need of school fees and other problems.

The beautiful Rosa Buy is a wit and unbeatable in a political platform. She has displayed her ability to mobilize the crowds during her recent appearances in a number of funeral homes within the Jo-Kisumo sub-clans.

Olago Aluoch, however, is credited for having been the most effective defender of Raila Odinga both inside and outside parliament, but he should have been advised to defend his own parliamentary seat in Kisumu Central, an area comprising mainly residents of the peri-urban areas of \nalenda,|Pand-pieri, kibuye, Obunga, Kondele and the Central Business district [CBD} instead of going for the Kisumu West seat.

Olago Aluoch tenure is shrouded with multiple accusation of poor disbursement of CDF and other government revolving money, the worse being the school bursary fund, where mothers of the poor students seeking bursary for their children have allegedly being asked for sexual favors before their children could be issued with the bursary fund, money which is always ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 not exceeding Kshs 5,000 , Whereas in the neighboring Kisumu Town East constituency the incumbent MP Shakeel Ahmed Shabir is credited for being so generous in giving out busary money for the needy students ranging from Kshs 10,000 and above.

Olago Aluoch is facing other allegations of having sidelined the indignant Jo-Kisumo people and having engaged outsiders to man the CDF and constituency offices, most of the managers are people from Siaya, South Nyanza, Migori and Rachuonyo with none from among the jo-Kisumu.

These outsiders are being accused of having vandalized the revolving funds and converted the money for personal use in total disregards to the plight of the electorate.

These are some of the major issues which are likely to dominate the campaign in Kisumu Town West. Mrs Buyu is said to have used her own resources helping the students from poor families. She is also unlike Olago Aluoch is accessible both in Kisumu and in Nairobi.

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KENYA: ODM YOUTH IN URIRI WHO IS THE BROTHER OF THE FORMER AREA MP IS KILLED IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND HIS BODY DUMPED IN A DAM

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Police in Uriri district are actively investigating the circumstances which led to the grisly murder of the younger brother of the former area MP the late |Herman Odhiambo Omamba.

The body of Joshua Omamba aged about 35 years was fished out of a dam near Ayiego Center in North Kanyamkago Location, Uririr district, Migori County.The body had a deep cut at the back of the head and multiple knife stabs all over.

The area Chief Milton Obote told this writer that they suspected the killing to be as the result of long standing family feuds. And at the same time it could be as the result of love-triangle as the deceased is suspected to have picked a quarrel with one of his younger brothers a few days earlier who he was suspecting of having an affair with his wife,

THe deceased’s younger brother is also an aspirant for the North Kanyamkago Katieno Ward County Representative seat.

The area D.C, George Lagat could not be reached immediately for comment. However, the killing has attracted wholesale condemnation of nearly all political leaders in Uriri including parliamentary aspirants

Among those who expressed concerned and urged the government to beef up the security in the area is Martin Owiny who is vying for Uriri seat current held by Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo.

The elders in the area have also cautioned the parliamentary aspirants in the area to desist from the bad habit of feeding rowdy youths with “Chang’aa’.

The incident occurred on the night of December 27, 2012 when the deceased failed to return homer from the chang”aa drinking dens near Ayedo Chief’s camp. So far no arrest has been made in connection with the killing of the deceased who was an ODM operative in the areas.

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Kenya & Somolia: Al-qaeda backed Somali terrorists now pays handsomely for every Kenyan security officer killed by their agents

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Writes Leo Oderea Omolo

The startling and shocking revelation was made on Wednesday this week that the Somalia based Al-qaeda terrorists groups operating inside Somalia is now offering colossal amount of money to the tune of USD 8,000 per head of any Kenyan security officer killed by its agents.

Making the revelation, the Garrisa regional commissioner Maalim Muhammed said the Kenya government got the information after intercepting secret Al-Shabaab communications.

‘The payment depends on the rank of the officer killed, the Commissioner said, during this year Kenya’s independence Day celebrations held at the Garrisa Primary School ground amid tight security.

Muhammed disclosed that the bounty was a desperate attempt by the militias to cause violence and mayhem and a dash for the money.

There has been increase in the incidents of hit-and-run attacks, which have resulted in several security being ambushed, shot and killed in Garrisa town and its environs. Garrisa is a frontier town in the North Eastern Province of Kenya, which has a porous border line with Somalia running close to 1000 kilometers.

The Commissioner further disclosed that member of the Kenya army and police as well as members of other security agencies were target for the cowardice attacks.

The Commissioner further disclosed to the bewilderment of the crowd that has dispatched several team of security personnel to carry out thorough surveillance along the border line and check the activity of the thousands of refugee influx into Kenya after the recent discovery that some of the refugee are the one smuggling deadly weapons into the country.

The government, he said, has recently acquired some of the most sophisticated state-of-the art electronic equipment for the purpose of intercepting the militias’ communications and messages as part of its effort to keep their activities on check.

The Al-Shabaab militia are said to be using very high frequency radio communications to plan attacks in Kenya, but the government of the plan is aware of the plan and would soon close down all the privately owned radio Communications in order to frustrate them.

It has been established that after losing key tows to the combined forces of Kenya,African Union, the Somali government including the economically important port of Kismayu, the terrorist groups have since resorted to urban-guerrilla tactics of hit-and-run inside Kenya.Their operations included setting explosives in towns, inside public passenger services vehicles, Christian churches and crowded locations within the capital city of Nairobi.

Other reports says the militias have infiltrated their agents into key town in Kenya, especially the urban centers which are located close to Kenya-Somalia border, and in the refugees camps, whose inhabitants are mostly people of Somali origins.

Al-Shabaan’s infiltrators are armed with deadly explosive, pistols, rifles even setting explosives inside passenger service vehicle and even killing passably

A Nairobi suburb of Earthlight, whose inhabitants are mostly Kenyan Somalis has of late become no-go-area following series of explosions which have resulted in deaths of many Kenya while more are.

The Garrisa Commissioner said,” We have some businessmen, who have installed radio communications on their business premises, But the government has to review the system because the terrorists are known to be using the same communication gadgets to plan attack inside Kenya, adding that some radio communication owners were under probe because of their links with militia groups outside Kenya.

The Jamhuri celebrations were meant to mark Kenya’s 49 anniversary of independence and was held in every regional, divisions, districts and even in rural locations.

LAST MONTH THE Kenyan security agencies arrested six people in Garrisa.The men were suspected of conveying illegal weapons into the town. And were planning mayhem during the Xmas festivities..

According to the police sources in Garrisa the suspects wer3e arrested at a place called Ruqa along the Kenya-Somalia border, four of the suspects escaped, but upon checking their luggage, the police discovered hand grenades, two pistols, several AK47 assault rifles, and 86 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Meanwhile Kenya police has dispatched more security personnel to the Kenya-Somalia border to carryout thorough security surveillance on refugees arriving into the country.The police said they are concerned

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Kenya: Fresh mega financial scandal hit the Sonysugar company in Awendo

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A private security providing firm, which is closely associated with the family of the former ODM Cabinet Minister, is allegedly minting thousands of shillings from the cash-strapped SonySugar Company.

The firm which is called Gillis Security Guard has over 100 security guards, who are protecting the company premises, property and cane farms within Awendo Town and its environs. The sugar firm is coffing out its coffers a cool Kshs 17,000 per head of each guard per month.

However, reports reaching us from various sources in Awendo says, the firm is only paying the guards the peanut of between Kshs 5,000 and Ksha 7,000 while pocketing the rest.

The same sources have told us that

each security dog is minting Kshs 27,000 per month for its maintenance, while the dog’s handlers are taking home just peanuts.

The firm is closely associated by the former Energy Minister George Ochillo-Ayacko,and it was in roaring business during Ayacko tenure as the Energy Minister winning lucrative tenders from nearly all the parastatal organizations under the Eneregy Ministry such as Ken-gen and KPL, up –to-date it is still providing security services to those firms.

Its interest in Awendo zone is under the local manager called John Walter Odhiambo Sirawa,alias John Walter Owino Ogur “Odari”. Who has since declared his interest in contesting the newly created Awendo parliamentary constituency

Awendo constituency is one among the 80 extra parliamentary constituencies which were created by the IEBC and later endorsed by an act of parliament. Its electoral areas are covering several administrative locations which included Sakwa West, Sakwa Central, Sakwa North, Sakwa South and Sakwa East.

Members of the cane farming fraternity are up in arms questioning the exorbitant payment for the security guards from this firm, alleging that its charges are too excessive from the perennially financially ailing sugar millers.

The farmers wants the matter to be investigated by a competent government investigation institution so as to establish how this firm had secured tender to provide the sugar mill with its guards and as to whether there were element of political connotation involved .

It has also been established that the second name of the security company is believed to have been faked. He true and real John Walter Owino Ogur [Hodari} who is ma close cousin of John Walter Sirawa is a deceased person.

Our investigations have revealed that the real Owino Ogur (hodari} was once a to student at the nearby Manyatta Secondary School where he passed his {O} level with flying color, and was later admitted to one of the High Schools to study for his {A} level certificate, but died while in the Form Five. The deceased died around 19887.

The current bearer of the same name John Walter Sirawa is believed to have studied up to upper primary standard seven at a local school called Ombasa Primary School, which is also located in Sakwa West Location and did not go beyond. That.

Sirawa it is being alleged to have fake the deceased academic certificate and used it to secure entry into the police force, but deserted and left the force in huff after the word went round that the force was actively investigating his academic background to escape punishment. He was later employed as a watchman by the Gillies Security Guard.

All the revelation of the startling and shocking information come into the surface after Sirawa who is now the top manager of the security firm guarding the property of the Awendo Sugar miller had declared his interest in contesting the Awendo parliamentary seat.

He is actively campaigning for the seat and is believed to have already deposited substantial amount of money with the ODM headquarters in Nairobi as one of the aspirants vying for the Awendo .parliamentary seat.

The allegations have sparked off the bitter complaints from other aspirants vying for the same seat who have expressed fears that the ODM headquarters could easily pass the applications from one who is armed with fake academic certificates.

The aspirants have called on the ODM to conduct a thorough investigation on all the applications submitted by aspirants vying for the various elective positions within the County governance, national assembly, Sanate and governorship.

The Awendo parliamentary seat has attracted other aspirants who included the former top KRA manager Jude Ayieko, who hails from Sakwa South, the Principal of Gamba high School Fred Otieno Kopiyo, Erick Oyoo, who is an executive with an international NGO Joseph Owuor who is the PA to the Public Service Manager Dalmas Otieno who hails from Central Sakwa, Lameck Okoth from Sakwa East ad Dr. Abwao from Sakwa West

The real bruising election battle is expected to be a two horse race between Eric Oyoo and Fred Kopiyo. Both are university graduate with high profile.

The ODM is the dominant party whose flag bearer is expect to carry the day after its preliminaries, and the electorate have appealed to the party not to allow anybody with fake academic certificate to pass the party’s nomination test and that the academic certificates of the aspirants should be thoroughly scrutinized with double checking’s.

Ends

Kenya & Tanzania: Massai issued a threat to block tourist from accessing Serengerti park and Ngorongoro World Heritage Site

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Maasai pastralist community living in the Northern Tanzanian region of Arusha has issued the government with ultimatum to either supply its starving members with free food or else it would block tourists from accessing the famous Serengeti national game park and the adjacent Ngorongoro World Heritage site.

The community has accused the Tanzanian government of reneging on an agreement and pushing its people into starvation.

The community, which is spread across the Tanzania-Kenya borders with half of its people living on the Kenyan side while another half on the Tanzanian side has given the Tanzanian government until December 22 to start issuing its members with free food as stipulated in the Ngorongoro agreement or allow them to cultivate the game park land and conduct farming therein.

The Northern Tourists Circuit comprises the world renowned Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Manyara and Tarangire National Parks, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s annual tourism earning estimated at USD 1.3 BILLION.

According to the pastoralist community leaders, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority {GCAA} has failed to provide for the community.This failure has resulted in the deaths of three children from starvation and hunger.

The NCAA is legally bound to take care of the |Maasai patoralist population living within the conservation area in order to protect the wildlife and other natural resources.

He community says it will block tourists from accessing the parks to pressure the government to honor its part of the deal, or allow its people to cultivate the land in the parks and conduct farming activities therein.

The Maasai said the would turn the tourist circuit into a no-go zone for tourists during this Christmas season.

He ultimatum was issued last week by the secretary of the Ngorngoro Pastoralist Committee .Lazaro Saitoti who said that the government must immediately supply the community with 9000 tons of emergency food grains.n addition to the NCAA giving the pastoralist community the sums of USD 9,375 million,which is equivalent to 30 per cent of the NCAAtuoirst collection of USD 5,215 million,up from the current USD 812,200 million.

The committee protect the interests of the 64,000members of the Maasai community living within the Ngorongoro Conservation area.

Other demands by the Maasai contained in the statement is that none members of the community living in the area be forcefully evicted from the protected areas..

Further demands were that hotels and lodges operating within the conservancy areas should give the community the lion’s share in terms of employment opportunities.

The community is also demanding for three representatives on the NCAA board. Currently the board has only one member from the community. They also wanted to be assured of the political goodwill to develop the community along with its neighbors

The Ngorongoro member of parliament Kaika Sabubg’o Telele warned that the community threat to block the access to the famous tourist attraction sceneries was serious and things could get out of hand unless the government take the quickest action to address the problem.

IN the MP’s view, the delay in supplying food May be a calculated move to frustrate the indigenous Maasai to leave the NCAA and find places to stay away from the conservation zones.

A senior govern ment official, however, dismissed the threat as politically motivated and asked the community to channel its case through the right channel to register their complaints.

ends

EXPERTS HAVE WARNED THAT THE NILE PERCH LAKE VICTORIA FISH STOCK IS DWINDLING TO THE POINT OF FACING EXTINCTION.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu

Lake Victoria the world’s second largest inland water mass is rapidly losing its fish stock. The worse affected is the economically prized Nile Perch species.

According to the information contained in statistics compiled from various fish landing beaches on the Kenyan side of the lake, the Nile Perch, which is commonly known as “Mbuta”, is an asset to the country because Kenya export tones of its fillets to the European, Japan, US and Israel markets.

The statistics are backed up by a study report by the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute {KMFRU}. Nile Perch species stocks in the lake has reduced to 34 per cent.

Mbuta was among many alien species of fish introduced into Lake Victoria in 1950s by the British colonial authorities to boost its economic benefits, but this has turned to be unsustainable in the long term since the lake ‘s ecological function and ecosystem suffer from elements beyond its boundaries.

According to the research, 49 per cent of Nile Perch is harvested before it reaches maturity stage, thereby interfering with the reproduction process.

A mature Nile Perch weights over 200kgs and is more than six feet long; but the KMFRI study says fishermen do not let the fish grow to this size. The Nile Perch is also a predator that dominates its surrounding and feeds on other fish as well as its own offspring.

KMFRI researcher Simon Agembe was recently quoted as saying that due to reduced fish yields, reducing biodiversity and water borne diseases, the livelihood and well being of more than 40 million people who depended on the lake’s resources, remains at risk.

Dr Agembe said if the fishing is not regulated, stocks of other species like dagaa {Omena} is likely to decline since fishermen are piling pressure on them.

Dagaa’s decline stands at 54 per cent. The study recommends that the government puts measures that will protect Nile Perch and other species in place.

The study proposed the protection of breeding areas and introduction of an alternative source of food in the lake region and income for fishermen to reduce the pressure on the lake.

Expert attribute the deflation of fish stocks in Lake Victoria to over-fishing, the use of unlawful and wrong fishing gears such as fish nets, the illegal use of chemicals which kills fish in their thousands, .

Fishermen and villagers around Luanda Koteno in Rarieda district were recently reported to have cornered and killed one fisherman who was caught red-handed while using chemicals at night in this way.\

A good number of youths, who are suspected to have lynched the fisherman they found using chemicals on fish, were later rounded up and charged with the murder in a Kisumu court., But the use of chemicals on fish is said to be still on the upsurge.

Ends

KENYA: THE HOME BAY COUNTY GOVERNOR ASPIRANT CYPRIAN AWITI RETURNS AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AFTER TAKING A TWO MONTHS SABABATICAL LEAVE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

Cyprian Otieno Awiti who is the leading contender for the elective position of Homa-Bay County governor last week made a surprise visit to the region to resume his campaign for the lucrative and powe4rful position of the County governor.

Awiti a former Marie Stoppie Country director has kept a low profile for close to three months sparking off speculation that he had withdrawn his candidature.

But last weekend the candidate hit the ground with thud like a thunderstorm and traversed the full length and width of Homa-Bay County while meeting the people, addressing roads side rallies.

Awiti told the voters at the numerous roadside addresses that he had taken a two months sabbatical leave and gave a break to the campaign trail n order to re-organize his campaign team and at the same time new contacts with his supporters in all the seven parliamentary constituencies.

He began his tour with a tour of Rusinga Island in the Suba region where he had attended the colorful opening ceremony of the multi-million shillings ultra-modern SDA Church at Gunda Kaswanga.

He later toured Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachunyo, Kasipul and wound the tour with the visit to the newly created parliamentary constituency of Kabondo-Kasipul while addressing small meetings here and there as well as ins0ecting the numerous socio-economic projects which he had been supporting

The populist Awiti warned his rival for the seat to get prepared well for a bruising election campaign battle, which he termed “will be the mother of all campaign s ever seen in the region.”

He told his rivals to strictly adhere to the ODM doctrine of non-violence campaign. At the same time he urged the voters to register as voters in their thousands so that they could vote for the party leader Raila Odinga to realize his State House ambition. But also to remember to vote for him to enable capture the County’s governorship.

Before he started his extensive tour of the region rumor had gone ahead that he was heavily armed with millions of campaign money, thus attracting hundred of people who scrambled to have a glimpse of him wherever he stopped to greet the electorate.

In his native Karachuonyo Awiti visited all the major sub-clans and villages to consult with the elders, women and youths leaders. Some of his meeting with the villagers went up to late in the evening only coming to an end at around 9 P.M. In some places he was forced the car headlights after dark, but he continued talking to the voters.

Awiti is credited and well documented for having spent millions of shillings in donations to various projects across Homa-Bay County. He is on record of being one person who has conducted more Harambee across the County than any other leaders in the expansive region.

He is facing two challengers, one of his rivals for the same seat them being the immediate former MP for Rangwe Eng.Philip Okundi, and a Maseno University professor of mathematics Prof.Akeyo Omolo.

Okundi is, however, disadvantaged by his advanced age as well as recent removal from the powerful ODM Board of elections where he performed dismally causing the ODM to lose out to other parties in series of parliamentary and civic by-elections due to much flawed and poorly organized nominations exercises.

Ends

Kenya: Ex-Mwakenya detainee join the race for Kisumu Central parliamentary seat

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The newly created Kisumu Central parliamentary constituency has yet attracted another high profile aspirant with very unique historical and political backgrounds, which the local political pundits were quick in predicting his impending election victory as being inevitable.

Kisumu Central electoral area was created by the IEBC as one of the additional 80 constituencies country-wide. It was curved out of the old Kisumu Town West, which has under gone extensive realignment

It will cover the old Peri-Urban areas of Nyalnda slums, Pand-Pieri, Milimani, Kaloleni Slums,Kibuye,Obunga, and the entire Central Business District {CBD} The old Kisumu Town West will now start from the Kisumu Airport and extend into the rural Kisumo Locations.

George Kwanya Odidi, 62 old water engineer by profession is a man of unique character. He was born a revolutionary man with political radicalism entrenched in his blood from childhood.

HERE Is Mr Odidi’s photograph.

May be this is one of the reasons which landed him to a political detention camp for nine good months at the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison.

Born in 1950 at Kanjira in West Karachuonyo, Odidi received his early education at Ngeta Primary School and later joined Homa-Bay High school for both his “O” and “A’ levels.

He joined the Kenya for only two year between 1969 and 1970, but was later fired on suspicion that he was among those sympathetic to the 1972 abortive military coup that saw the former CGS Lt Gen Ndolo removed from the armed force and the first Kenyan African Chief Justice the late Kitili Mwendwa being sacked and scores of other given long prison sentences with hard labor.

During the government crackdown on suspicious soldiers and political dissidents Odidi, lost this army job. But he was lucky and after termacking for a few months he landed a new job with the Ministry of Water Development from where the lady-luck came calling on him. The Ministry offered him a three years scholarship to study water engineering course at the Warwick University in the UK

At the completion of his course Odidi returned home and was posted to work in Nyanza on promote as the Provincial Water Engineer in-charge of Nyanza Province.

An during his tenure in Kisumu, Odidi found himself in the catch-22 when the KANU regime under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi launched a full-scale crack-down on the members of the “Mwakenya dissidents countrywide.

He was among scores of those unlucky men and women ho got entangled in the Mwakenya underground activities and got netted in the crack-down by the dreaded Special branch security intelligence police unit.

He was among those who were charged in courts in connection with Mwakenya clandestine movement. He pleaded not guilty and the charges were withdrawn by the prosecution due to luck of sufficient evidence.

Instead of earning his freedom after the court case, Odidi was placed under security detention camp at the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison where he languished for the next nine months.

He was released from detention and fired from the government services without his terminal benefits. Odidi later got involved in football administration and won several position within the KFF in Nyanza region. At the same time he ventured into private business using his engineering training background and established his own enterprising construction firm.

During the first multiparty election of 192 Odidi surprised everyone when he trounced the then incumbent Karachuonyo MP Mrs Phoebe Muga Asiyo during the ford Kenya primary nominations prompting the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s intervention by prevailing upon him to stand down in favor of Mrs Asiyo.Jaramogi was the Ford Kenya national chairman.

Odidi reluctantly succumbed to Jaramogi’s and as a sign of respect to the doyen of oppositionist politics and highly respected freedom fighter he stood down but no sooner the news of his popularity in Karachuonyo reached the ears of the KANU Big-Wigs who immediately sent emissaries to persuade him to contest the election on a KANU ticket. KANU had offered to finance his election campaign with millions, but Odidi stood his ground and turned down.their offer.

Making the announcement for his candidature in Kisumu Central,Odidi said he will strive to initiate the revival of all of the stalled economic projects including manufacturing firms like Kenya Breweries plant in Kisumu are revived to alleviate unemployment of youths in the region.

He plan to ensure the manual removal o the dreaded water hyacinth which has of late became a real menace to the fishing industry, and also to empower youth and women to get involved in small and large scale enterprises, and also to encourage horticultural small scale farming by youths using water of Lake Victoria along its shorelines. The farm products could be exported

Ends

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Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

KENYA: BRIBERY, NEPOTISM MANIPULATION OF VOTERS WHILE THE HIRED POLITICAL GOONS REIN SUPREME EVERYWHERE FEATURED PREEMINENTLY DURING THE MUCH FLAWED ODM PRIMARIES IN LUO-NYANZA.

KENYA: ODM NOMINATION PRIMARIES IN NYANZA WAS A SHAM AND MOCKERY TO DEMOCRATIC TENETS AS IT WAS MARRED BY ACTS OF HOOLIGANISM AND POLITICAL THUGGERY

Kenya: A voter in Homa-Bay County wants Minister Otoeno Kajwang’ to be barred from contesting any elective position on integrity

East Afraca: Confusion over multiple memberships of EAC countries into several African trading blocs

Tanzania under heavy pressure from environmentalists to shelve its plan to construct an international airport inside the Serengeti world heritage site

KENYA: MINISTER DALMAS OTIENO”S MOTORCADE CAME UNDER HALE OF STONES AMID ACCUSATIONS BY ODM ASPIRANTS IN MIGORI COUNTRY THAT HE HAD HATCHED A DICTATORIAL PLAN OF DISHING OUT DIRECT NOMINATIONS CERTIFICATES TO THE PREFERRED CANDIDATES.

Kenya: Nairobi based business magnate has joined the race for Awendo seat causing great panic among other aspirants

KENYA: UDF IS A TRUE REPLICA OF THE DEFUNCT kadu AND IS OUT TO CAUSE CHAOS AND POLITICAL MAYHEM

KENYA: THE ATTACK AND STONING OF MIGORI WOMAN ASPIRANT HAS SPARKED OFF WHOLESALE CONDEMNATION BY THE REGIONAL LEADERS WHO CALLED FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN AND GENDER RESPECT.

KENYA: ANOTHER HIGH ACADEMIC PROFILE WOMAN JOINS THE RACE FOR KISUMU WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE SEAT.

KENYA: THREE LUO CABINET MINISTERS GOT RUDE AND SHOCKING MIXED RECEPTION IN THEIR CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN SIAYA AND HOMA-BAY COUNTIES.

Kenya: Migori ODM MPs may retain their seats due to varied reasons

Kenya: Olago Aluoch is facing defeat by Mrs Rosa Buyu in Kisumu Town West parliamentary contest

KENYA: ODM YOUTH IN URIRI WHO IS THE BROTHER OF THE FORMER AREA MP IS KILLED IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND HIS BODY DUMPED IN A DAM

Kenya & Somolia: Al-qaeda backed Somali terrorists now pays handsomely for every Kenyan security officer killed by their agents

Kenya: Fresh mega financial scandal hit the Sonysugar company in Awendo

Kenya & Tanzania: Massai issued a threat to block tourist from accessing Serengerti park and Ngorongoro World Heritage Site

EXPERTS HAVE WARNED THAT THE NILE PERCH LAKE VICTORIA FISH STOCK IS DWINDLING TO THE POINT OF FACING EXTINCTION.

KENYA: THE HOME BAY COUNTY GOVERNOR ASPIRANT CYPRIAN AWITI RETURNS AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AFTER TAKING A TWO MONTHS SABABATICAL LEAVE.

Kenya: Ex-Mwakenya detainee join the race for Kisumu Central parliamentary seat