Writes Leo Odera Omolo

WHAT happened to Nyando MP Fred Outa at the weekend is good lesson to most of the MPs from Luo-Nyanza.

Outa was heckled and forced to cut his speech short by irate school teachers during the homecoming party in honor of the KNUT Secretary General Okuta Osiany.

The MP found himself in trouble when he made a spirited effort to defend the government over its handling of teacher strike last week.

The incident occurred at St. Agnes Educational Center in Ahero Town in Nyando district within Kisumu County.

The angry teachers did not mince their words and they greeted the MP with heckling forcing hi to vacate the venue at huff.

The MP had arrived at the venue in style when the KNUT national chairman Wilson Sossion was addressing the thanks giving service and homecoming party for Okuta Osiany who had led the teachers to success in securing some of their demands which made them laid down their tool a week ago.

Similar treatment could be in store for a number of MPs from Luo-Nyanza – – a majority of them said to have lost touch with the electorate.

A survey carried out by our team revealed that most the Luo MPs don’t communicate with their constituents. They have severed their phone connections, even with those close to them such as members of local Constituency Development Funds {CDF}, paving he way for the government devolving funds to be vandalized by their political cronies.

The majority of the Luo MPs with exception of a few are said to have severed their links with the electorate and not even accepting phone calls from their constituents and the same time they hardly seen at the local scenes.

Among those Luo MPs whose phone lines are said to permanently unobtainable include the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Otieno who is the Rongo MP within Migori County, Cyprian Ojwng’Omolo who represented Uriri constituency within Migori County, Martin Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe}, Fred Outa {Nyando}, Eng. Nicholas Gumbo {Rarieda}, John Pesa {Migori}, Poylins Ochieng’ Daima {Nyakach, Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda {Alego-Usonga},Ahmed Shakil Shabbir {Kisumu Town East},Prof.Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o the Minister for Health Services and MP for Kisumu Rural.

One MP, who won the election in 2007 in Rarieda constituency in Bondo County, where his predecessor had done a sterling performance in Parliament between 2002 and 2007, could not fit into the shoes of the former.

This is Eng. Nichoilas Gumbo who stepped into Raphael Tuju’s shoes, but has since found it to be too big and too hot for him to fit in.

The MPs who are being credited by their constituents for being easily accessible include Joshua Orwa Ojode{Ndhiwa} and an Assistant Minister for Internal security, Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike}, LANDS Minister James Orengo {Ugenya,Joseph Oyugi Magwana {Kasipul-Kabondo}, Eng. James K Rege{Karachuonyo} John Mbadi {Gwassi} Ayiecho Olueny {Muhoroni}.Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ the Minister for Immigration and Registration of Persons who is also the MP for Mbita.

One of the MP is said to be notorious for receiving phones through proxies – – either body guards or drivers. This is the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Oginga. However, despite of the difficulties faced by his constituents in accessing him, Dr Oburu Oginga at time does interact with members of his constituents easily.

Having lost the touch with their constituents, the majority of MPs from this region are said to be scrambling for the lucrative positions within the Counties such as governorship and Senate representatives after sensing that their re-election to the August House would be nightmarish.

One MP is known not to have made his maiden speech ever since he was elected in December 2007. This is the MP for Uriri Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo allegedly owing to lack of sufficient command of the language and poor communication skills. And another MP who is allegedly experiences difficulties in expressing himself eloquently in the House is Prof.Ayiecho Olueny of Muhoroni and Ahmed Shakil Shabbir {Kisumu Town East}.

The tenth parliament, however, produced several most eloquent and formidable debtors among the Luo MPs. They include John Mbadi{Gwassi}, Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa},John Olago AluochKisumu Town West}, John Pesa{Migori}, Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem}, James Rege{Karachuonyo}, Geralf Otieno Kajwang’ {Mbita}

And the Nominated MP Ms Millie Odhimbo, the only female MP from Nyanza stole the show for having been the most effective and eloquent debater and a major contributor to most important national issues in Parliament followed closely by John Olago Aluoch of Ksumu Town West and John Mbadi of Gwassi.

Dalmas Otieno the Rongo MP is said to have his phone line permanently shut down, and could not be reached even by his close political association back at home. Those close to the Minister said he briefly open his line early the morning, but most time of the day it is shut down and he Minister is permanently inaccessible.

Among the MPs from Luo-Nyanza with the most shinning score cards reflecting good performance in terms of achievement in development activities.include Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa}, Edick Omondi Anyanga{Natike], Dr Oburu Oginga { Bondo},Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo}, Eng. James K Rege {Karachuono},John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town},Gerald Otieno Kajwng’ {Mbita},Jakoyo Midiuwo {Gem},John Pesa {Migori},

Topping the list of those who have performed poorly is Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, Martin Otieno Ogindo, Ahmed Shakil Shabbir, Fred Outa,Nicholas Gumbo, Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda and Dalmas Otieno.

Cutting off from the electorate is viewed as failure on the part of an MP because as a representative f the people the MP need to interact with his constituents so that they could brainstorm together and plan for the development programme of a given constituency. But an MP who shy away from the constituents is considered to have abdicated from his responsibilities.

Other political pundits in the region are placing their blames squarely at the door steps of the heavily moneyed individuals whom they favor for nomination on the party ticket after bribing their way to the August House in total disregard of their academic qualification and understanding of local and national politics. This has produced many mediocre to become MPs in places they don’t deserve.

Ends