Reports Leo Odera Omolo In MigoriTown.

POLITICS of hero worshipping and patronage at the elections time are some of the major obstacles retarding development and progress inside Luo-Nyanza.

This was sated at the weekend by the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who pointed out that the political patronage is denying the community the right to elect mature and credible leaders to the various elective positions.

He was speaking during a funds drive at Kadika in Wasweta East, Migori district where he helped raise over Kshs 2 million. The money would go towards the construction of Kadika SDA church.

Ojode who is also an Assistant Minister for the Internal Security echoed the feeling being nursed by many people that the region will continue to be lagging behind in competitive development unless the leaders rose above “political party worship”.

The MP said only people who were able to change the livelihood of the electorates should be elected to the position of MPs, Senate and local authority representatives in the next year’s polls.

He went on,” Many unfit people had been elected to the various offices in the past for merely being in the ‘correct party’ though most of the later turn to be the biggest liability than asset to the party and the electorate.”

The weekend utterances by the independent minded has since provoked sharp reaction from various quarters with most people agreeing with his sentiments terming them positive views, while ODM supporters and local leader who have been mooting for “Uniform Voting” in the region have described them as “Divisive”

The hard working Ndhiwa MP of late has been viewed as silent critic of the Luo political kingpin, Raila Amolo Odinga. This is so because for close to four years now Ojode has been conspicuously absent from the many functions presided over by the ODM leader.

The Assistant Minister recently told this writer during an exclusive interview that he is against Raila Odinga.” I am not war with ‘Agwambo’ except some idle talkers and busy bodies feel I am a threat to be I the local Luo succession politics.”

“These people view me as a potential successor to Raila in Nyanza politics due to my attractive of development in my home turf of Ndhiwa and also my contributions in the region’s development activities plus my young age.

The Assistant Minister scathingly criticized the management f the Awendo-based Sony Sugar Company”for seeking the service of the police to protect itself from competition with other millers over cane supplied.”This particular fir has been in business for close to 30 year and should now embrace in the industry.

“Sony Sugar should stop blaming others and complaining that the operation the new rival, the Sukari Industries limited, which is located in Ndhiwa district for cane ‘poaching’ by the new factory. Moreover another sugar mills has already commence its production I the neighboring Trans – Mara district- also a short distant from Awendo-based millers bringing the number of sugar mills in the region to three.

The Assistant Minister said he will not accept SONYSUGAR to misuse officers from his Ministry to fight unnecessary wars and this trend must stop.

“Under the liberalized sugar industry, farmers were now free to take their cane to a better paying factory and should never be held hostage in this age of liberalized market.”he added,

Ojode reaffirmed his support for the new factory saying that “because of this competition the sugar can farmers in the region can now reap the full benefits of their sweat.”

The Ndhiwa based Sukari Industries Limited a private owned enterprise is paying out Kshs 5,097/- per ton of delivered sugar, whereas only Sugar based at Awendo is now paying Kshs 4,500 the prices which was increased only last week from the previous Kshs 3,5oo per ton. But it is deducting further some of money t for transport and harvesting expenses, whereas the Ndhiwa based does everything including transport and harvesting costs without levy anything o a farmer. The increase I the price set by Sukari Industries Limited is 46 per cent, and many farmers are happy with them and wanted t switch their allegiance to the new firm.

Ends