News Analysis by Bob Ndira-Uradi. In Kisumu City
The chest-thumping politics of the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Oginga in Siaya County could have adverse and negative effects on the popularity of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in some part of Luo-Nyanza.
Dr Oburu Odinga’s negative attitudes and total disregard for the opinion of other Siaya leaders are causing jittery moments for members of the Kenya’s 10th parliament.
The Prime Minister Raia Odinga who is one of the presidential aspirants in 2013 Prudential elections is the younger brother of Dr. Oburu Oginga. Raila represented an urban constituency of Lang’ata in Nairobi, while his elder brother Dr Oburu Oginga represented the Bondo constituency in her family rural home turf.
Dr Oburhas declared his interest in the Siaya County Senate seat within the County governance
The Bondo MP was quoted early this week by a section of the press as daring those interested in the Siaya County Senate seat to face him. The Ugenya MP and the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo had hinted that he to was interested in the same Senate seat. Orengo, however, has yet to show keen interest in contesting for the same set.
Oburu is currently locked into unholy war wit the abrasive Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwoand a section of Siaya leaders who feels that all the County governance elective positions should be divided and shared proportionately so that no area would cry foul among the six parliamentary .constituencies. But Dr Oburu Odinga could not hear of this.
The common rumor making the rounds within Siayadits envirns have it that Dr Oburu Odinga wanted his son Elijah Abony to succeed him as the next Bondo MP,something which is being resisted vehemently by the local leaders in Bondo itself in particular and Saya County in general.
The other contentious issue which is causing a lot of jitteryness among the people of Kisumu County is the recent declaration by Dr Oburu Odinga’s younger sister Ruth Adhiambo Odonga that he would be contesting for the position of the Kisumu County governor.
Jakoyo Midiwo who is a cousin of Dr Oburu is not opposed to his maternal cousin’s intention to contest the Siay Senate seat, but he and other politician in the region wants all the leaders particularly the seat holders to sit down and deleniate others as who will vie for which position so that every constituency is represented effectively in the County governance and that this should be arrived at by concensus.
Ruth Adhiambo Odinga who is the current Managing Director of the Odinga family business flagship, the Spectre International the firm which is managing the Kisumu Molases Plat, based at Otonglo Market within the in the outskirt of Kisumu City.
She is not a native resident of Kisumu County, but rather is a resident of Siaya where the parants home is located in Bondo. His candidature is now marred on members of the Odinga family as selfish and displaying excessive political arrogance. And out and hell-bent on gabbing every elective positions inside Luo-Nyanza leaving the rest of the population with nothing to take home.
Ruth Adhiambo Odinga will be competing for the same seat with the native Kisumu County residents like the former receiver manger at the Muhoroni Sugar Company Jack Ranguma, who hails from Kobura in West Kano, a US-based senior university lecturer Dr Barrack Abonyo,alo from Kano, one woman leader from Nyakach, the Mumias Marketing and sales director Pete Hongo who hail ail from Nyahera area of Kisumu and a Nairobi based youthful insurance executive Simon Ogendo who hails from Kasagam/Kolwa near Nyamaria
Kisumu County is made of Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu Town East, Kisumu Town West, Kisumu Central and Seme / Kombewa parliamentary constituencies. These electoral areas represent the people of diverse cultural and communal backgrounds, non-Luo and Asians included.
Members of the Odinga family have dominated politics in Luo-Nyanza for now close t five decades, and some of the dissenting views currently being expressed in private, mostly by level minded members of the community an intellectuals have been heard saying that the time was sup for the Odingas to give the Luo community the breathing space
About two months ago Dr Oburu Odinga had invite delegates from all the six constituencies to a get-together party in his Bondo rural home, apparently to deliberate on the same Senate seat issue following the disclosure the pay was organized purposefully and specifically as part of his campaign strategy.
Residents of Siaya, however, have resolved to elect the former Gem MP Joe Odonde as the next governor for the Siaya County among those who have already indicated their interests in the governorship position.
The former legislator is said to be a moderate and dynamic person who is very capable of offering a more dignified leadership to the County. He is said be getting along well with all the current MPs in the area with exception of the Bondo MP who is being accused of being a lone ranger.
The in Bondo MP’s leadership has been shrouded with lackluster and dismal performance and being too mean.
The common saying in Siaya and in other parts of Luo-Nyanza is that
All the leaders should devote their valuable times in the crucial campaign for the Prime Minster Raila Odinga presidential ambition.
The overzealous ambition of Dr Oburu Odinga and the ambitions of other members of the family who are scrambling for elective seats could hurt and scuttle Raila’s campaign
Ends
I believe you are entitled to your opinion, however when peddle such cheap proganda that to be a governor of kisumu, one most be a local. These retrogressive and cheap hulahoos should be condenmed in toto. This are what have dragged nyanza behind for years. If that is the case, you seem to contradict yourself. Raila has been langata mp for more than three terms.
Having said that, your corollary of the odingas not taking people for granted should not be taken lightly.
Your article lacks in substant.I think its once democratic right to contest any position anywhere irrespective of who is his father,brother or sister etc.It is also interesting to note that you are reporting that people have resolved to vote for certain candidates,i wonder where,and on which forums.Democracy should not be democracy only when you are advantaged. I dont support any of the candidates because none has tabled his or her agenda,but i thick it is completly out of order for you to insuniate that when you want to contest any position,your family background should be vetted,i mean those only rule is that the majority his is not like a groom going to propose and the woman people are interogating his family background to confirm whether or not they are night runners.This is politics and democracy whose only rule is that the majority gets their way and the minority their say.
I find the comments apportioned to Hon.Oburu about the Siaya county politics abit biased, uncalled for and lacks alot of facts. It is important and quite prudent to mention the following just to put facts straight about Hon.oburu’s Candidature:
1. Hon. Oburu’s Candidature is anchored on his Track record in development and anybody doubting this should visit Bondo and especially the district Development Office where the records can be found. Its not because he is Jaramogi’s son.
2. The senate seat Oburu is vying for is 80% about resource mobilization for the county and laying groundwork for absorption of more funds by the county. This is Oburu’s line of specialization where he holds PHD in development economics. This specialization is coupled with vast experience and practicalities on the said and not just empty sweet talk.
oburu odinga who vyinng siaya senator siaya caunty has got aproblem with siaya people deu to handing over the seat his child