Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Luo Council of Elders is only one entity and as such no other organization or parallel groups can operate using the same name and title of the organization.

The Council Chairman Ker Willis Opiyo Otondi yesterday issue a stern warning in a letter which was also copied to the Provincial Administration, the police and all relevant authorities throughout Nyanza Province asking them not to deal with any splinter group masquerading as the officials of the Luo Council of Elders.

Ker Opiyo Otondi broke his silent for the first time ever since he was anointed as the head of the controversy ridden cultural organization by the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

The ceremony held at the guest house of the SONYSUGAR company at Awendo in Rongo constituency within Migori County was boycotted by the other members led by the ousted former chairman Meshack Riaga Ogalo.

Ker Opiyo Otondi in a terse two paragraph letter, which was copied to all D.C.s, and OCPDs in Nyanza Province advised all the relevant authorities in the region not to deal with the ousted group. A copy of registration certificate from the Registrar of the Societies, signed by one L.N.Waithaka is attached.

The registrar gave the following names as the officially registered new officials of the Luo Council of Elders.

It gave the following names as the duly registered new officials.Chairman {Ker} Willis Opiyo Otondi, Vice chairman Ex-Senior Chief John Omolo Anditi, Secretary Samson Otieno Oyieko, Assistant Secretary Owino Nyady, Treasurer Paul Owino Ombuor, Assistant Treasurer Michael Odote Kojiem, Organizing Secretary Stephen Otho Deya and Assistant Organizing Secretary Alogo Raila.

Waithaka’s letter, which Ker Opiyo Otondi has circulated to all government offices in the region says in part that the new officials were registered on June 9,2010 under the Societies Act {CP.108} And Soc/48261.

Ker Opiyo Otondi has also advised all rel;event government offices not to recognize or register any new body calling itself Luo or REamogi Supreme Council of Elders saying the two names Luo and Ramogi are culturally sacred names and such cannot be misused by anyone to satisfy his or her personal egos.

Ker Opiyo Otondi’s letter came in the form of clarification following reports that rival groups have of late been visiting D.Cs and police authorities seeking permission to hold public gathering or meeting in some districts. . “People are free to hold their meeting anywhere at anytime, but there must be a clear-cut understandable policy that nobody be allowed to use the name of Luo Coiuncil of Elders without express permission and authority from Ofafa Memorial Hall Offices of the Council, which is located in Kisumu City,”a source in Kisumu. has said.

The letter says in part; “It is therefore follow that, the activities of the other group masquerading as the official of the Council of Elders is illegal and should not be allowed to hold any public meetings within your area of jurisdiction unless there is endorsement of such a gathering by our branch officials within your district.”

Ker Opiyo Otondi ‘s letter also listed the following branches throughout Luo-Nyanza as Suba, Mbita, Homa-Bay,Ndhiwa,Rachunyo North,Rachuonyo South,Nyatike, Uriri, Migori,Rongo, Nyakach, Nyando, Muhoroni,Kisumu West, Kisumu North, Bondo, Rarieda, Gem, Alego-Usonga,Ugenya, Ugunja.

It asked all the DCs to cooperate with its head office by stopping any illegal meetings.

Former Councilk chairman Meshack Riaga Ogalo recently held a press conference at the Museum View Hotel whose owner Mzee Yusto Ondigo Oyoo is a member of the splinter group and severely criticized the Prime Minister Raila Odinga for having anointed the new Ker, and yet he and his group were still in office.

They argued that Raila has no mandate to anoint new Ker because the Council is not part of political party nor is it affiliated to any political movement.

The Ogalo group was ousted on an election which took place on June 4 at the Ofafa Memorial Hall, which they boycotted. This was latter followed by a tension consultative meeting chaired by Raila Odinga and attended by over 10 MPOs at the same venue in attempt to reconcile the group, but it became overwhelmingly apparent that the two functions were irreconcilable.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com