News Analysis by a Special Correspondent in Kisumu City
REPORTS emerging from the outlaying administrative districts within the four Counties, which forms the parts of the old larger Nyanza Province have indicating that the behind the scene covert operations is in the offing in which members of the Luo community are unanimous that the time is ripe for the ousting and replacement of the ODM leader Raila Amolo Odinga with a young technocrat.
The plans is said o have received the blessing of Luo elders from all over the Four administrative Counties of Siaya,Kisumu, Homa-Bay and Migori.
The Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is now approaching his 70s year of age has thrice tried his hand at winning the presidency of this country ever since 1997 ,2007 and 2013but has yet to be fortunate enough to capture the top-most job on the land.
Senior members of the community have now a second feeling tat it is time that Odinga be replaced in readiness for the 2017 general election. This political scenario is likely to raise political temperature inside Luo-Nyanza and degenerate a lot of controversies owing to Raila Odinga enormous popularity within the community.
Several names are on the card being floated by the proponents of this scheme. They included that of the Nairobi governor-elect Dr Evans Otieno Kidero, the outspoken former Rangwe firebrand MP Dr. Shem Ochuodho, Rarieda MP Eng. Nicholas Gumbo, a Nairobi based business tycoon, Sammy Wakiaga, Suba MP John Mbadi,Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno who is the Minister for Public Services
The proponents and those floating the idea of replacing Raila Odinga with a young technocrat politicians have readily admitting that Odinga might not be too old in 2017 to have another shot at the presidency. They, however, maintained that “Agwambo’s” fortune appeared to have waned beyond repair.
Prior to his death in an aircraft crash last June, the former Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who was serving the coalition government as an Assistant Minister for Internal Security ad Provincial Administration had his name on the lead.
The working relations between thef0rer abrasive Ndhiwa MP Ojode and Raila Odinga had gone sour at the time of his death following the rumors that the latter was nursing political ambition of becoming the overall. Dr Kidero a former Managing Director of Mumias Sugar Company is said to have contested and cliched the position of Nairobi-governor-elect against the wishes of Raila Odinga and some of his Luo handlers. The group advanced an argument that it was unattainable for Raila Odinga to occupy the Government House, while at the same time Dr Kidero is sitting at the helm of the City governorship.
The group had favored either Bishop Margaret Wanjiru or Jimnah for the Nairobi governor position. Dr Kidero an urbanized deployed his political dynamism and magnanimity to clinch the seat. Raila Odinga staunch supporters had viewed Dr Kidero’s bid for governorship as ‘spoiler’.
Prior to the 2007 general election Wakiaga who is still in the civil service as a senior government official had shown keen interest in joining parliamentary politics in his native Mbita constituency in Suba.
Wakiaga was to contest the seat against the then incumbent Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ of the famous bado Kuna Mapambano lyrics. However, those to insight information about Mbita politics have told us that it was Raila Odinga who prevailed upon Wakiaga not to contest the election against Otieno Kajwang’ on the promises that once the ODM win the election, he Wakiaga would be considered for another more lucrative position within the ODM administration.
Wakiaga who runs a chain of businesses in both Nairobi and Nyanza is closely associated with the Mbita Ferries Limited, whose ferries are currently plying the Lake Victoria between Luanda Kotieno in Rarieda and Mbita and also between Misori in Uyoma West and Mbita as well as between Mbita town and Mfangano Islands. He is also running a chains of hotels and air-travel agencies.
Another MP whose soberly character seemed to have attracted the elders who are considering him for the future role political leadership in Luo-Nyanza is the Karachuonyo MP Eng.James K. Rege.The newly elected Seme MP Dr.James Nyikal a former PS in the Ministry of Medical services is also being mentioned .
The coming weeks will witness a lot of the behind the scene activities inside Luo-Nyanza, because of the of the proponent of the change of leadership within the community has vowed to go out flat to canvass for their proposals.
Ends
All this is garbage.
Community leaders emerge on their own – they are not elected, appointed or proposed by anybody. Raila came out on his own. He was not chosen by Luos. And to be even more accurate Raila never came out on the scene as a Luo leader. Raila came out with a rally call to reform the governance of Kenya. He came on the scene with a “Kenya Yetu’ call – he did not come out with ‘Watu Wangu’ call like William Ruto. Therefopre nobody should reduce Raila to a ‘Luo leader’.
Part of your analysis is correct the rest is propaganda by Dr. Shem Ochuodho who has beef with anyone who he believes can outshine him in Nyanza Politics in 2002 he caused mayhem at the Mt Kenya safari lodge as the group appointed Prof. Anyang Nyongo, Kiraitu and the rest to negotiate and form RAINBOW. This is a guy whose own constituents rejected. As for Kidero your analysis is wrong because he was going for governorship and Wanjiru senate. Where you get your facts is amusing and I think you should not peddle your masters campaign here
Sometimes back around the year 2008, I wrote an article here in Jaluo.com but I wrote it in our language about this topic. Even I went as far as quoting names whereby I said that, we as a community, we should have some of our sons to help Jakom and also take the position if Jakom ang`atuke. I quoted the names of Dalms Otieno, James Orengo as well as Peter Anyang` Nyong`o, I was really criticized. So if the time is now ripe, let us come together without discrimination from both sides of the lake. We need some one who can unite us across to the borders of TZ and UG.