News analysis By Arum-Tidi Ogonglo, A Special Correspondent

The ODM leader Raila Odinga could have shot himself in the leg when he tried to look neutral and impartial telling the party followers and members that he had nobody whom he preferred to be elected in any position during the last Friday aborted NDC election meeting at the Safaricom Sports ground Kasarani in Nairobi.

Many people did put to question Raila neutrality and impartiality. The party members took it that “Agwambo“ is a double speak man who can go to the extent of fooling his loyal supporters with no regards to his political feature.

Lack of impartiality and neutrality was exposed naked when Raila’s younger sister Ruth Adhiambo accompanied Dr. Agnes Zani who was gunning for the coveted position of Secretary General during her campaign tour of Migori and Homa-Bay Counties and jointly addressed the delegates from the two counties. Could it happen that Raila had no idea that own sister was actively campaigning for Dr. Zani.

Ruth Adhiambo is a very important family member of the Odingas. She is the Deputy Governor of Kisumu County an as such a very significant member of the inner and kitchen cabinet of Raila. Adhiambo was also accompanied by Ms Prisca Auma Misachi, the Ward Representative of Kaloleni/Shauri Moyo Ward in the Kisumu County assembly and former Kisumu Mayor and another confidant of the ODM”s supremo.

It is instructively to say that no sane person in his/or her true frame of mind would agree that Raila sister Adhiambo was campaigning for Dr Zani in Nyanza and elsewhere without full knowledge and blessing of the party leader.

The question about who was responsible for the chaos that erupted at Kasarani ground forcing the ODM leadership to call off the election. The majority of the men “In Black Suts” who caused the mayhem has the simplest answer. Most of the goons had travelled from Kisumu to Nairobi on a special mission. If the team in the election line up does not favor the one preferred by “Jakom” then there should be no election. This is the same tactics and style which was deployed in Thika Stadium when Raila fought the late Wamalwa Kijana tooth and nail in the struggle for power in the Ford-Kenya after the untimely demise of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in January 1994.now close to twenty years.

The true architect of last week’s ODM election debacles, according to rumor-meals were Reuben Ndolo former Makadara MP, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor, Homa-Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ and the former Nyakach MP, former Nairobi Mayor J.Aladwa and Peter Ochieng’ Odoyo. The hired goons from Kisumu were joined by hundreds of job-seekers and idlers, especially ODM youths who hang around Parliament building in search of handout money from the MPS, but always turn out during the party functions clad in black in black suits similar to those won by security personnel charged with the task of guarding the VIPs and MPS’

According to the rumors making the round in Kisumu and its environs Peter Odoyo was tasked with the responsibility of manipulating the names in the lists of delegates from Luo-Nyanza.

The common saying is that these political hirelings had saved Raila from being ashamed due to the fact that his favorite team was heading for humiliating defeat, something which could have caused him a lot of embarrassment. A number of Luo MPS who are usually the staunchest supporters of Raila both inside and outside parliament stayed away from Kasarani NDC meeting.Notable absentees included Raila”s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem}. MIllie Odhiambo {Mbita, Jared Kopiyo {Awendo}, Geoerge Oner Rangwe}, Dalmas Otieno {Rongo}, Olago Aluoch {Kisumu West}. Agustine Neto {Ndhiwa} Deng James K Rege { Karachuonyo], Silvance Oselled {Kabondo-kasipul}, David Ochieng’ [Ugenya}., Omondi Muluany{Alego-Usonga}

Another popular word, which spread like the bush fire during the campaign was the suspicion that Dr. Agnes Zabi who was campaigning for the Secretary-General position couold not be trusted with such coveted position, and this brought in picture the previous gender issues, whereby the previously trusted ladies who had held senior position in the ODM/PNU coalition government left the party in huff and joined its competitors Those whose names were given as bad example included MADAM charity Kaluki Ngilu, Dr Sally Kosgei, and Ms Rachel Shebes. Their departure had invigorated the spirit of the youthful ODM MPS from Luo-Nyanza who saw no differences between Dr Zani and the three senior ladies who left the party at the time when they were needed most.

In fact some delegates were heard saying that if Raila insist in having Dr.Zani then he should even hang himself in the nearest tree. ”But we shall not have another woman holding such a higher position in the ODM”.

Chest thumping MPS, particularly those who hails from the greater Southern Nanza region made categorically clear that Ababu Namwamba was the man to watch. But the situation even became worse when some of Raila”s adviser branded Ababu Namwambas as a jubilee mole in the ODM, something which did not go down well with the section of MPS complaining that Rala need to re-brand himself and off-load some members of hissi89then cabinet. Names mentioned frequently as those needs to be off-loaded included Braila’s own brother Dr Oburu Oginga nominated MP, Senator Otieno Kajwang’.

Other information making the round in Kisumu and its environs is that two newly formed political parties are currently waiting in the wing hopng to capitalize on the ig fallout in ODM. One such party is said to have already been registered by the registrar of the political parties, its leaders are only holding up on a technical hitch before they come out full blast. It mis called the People Action n Party of Kenya {PAP}, which is closely associated with Mrs Grace Akumu, the wife of the former Nyakach MP and one time the Secretary General of COTU James Denish Akumu.

The other party in waiting is called Kalausi {Wirlwlwind} which said to be the brainchild of about ten MPS from Luio-Nyanza, Sime of the big names being associated with it included that of the Nairoi governor Dr Evans Kidero and the Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno. There are also the names of Luo business tycoons and professionals. Its impact is yet to be assesses. It is not clear as to whether Kalausi is the new party which the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo had hinted to be in the offing a couple of weeks ago.

Ends