KENYA’S PRIME MINISTER, RAILA ODINGA COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE UGLY HEAD OF DISUNITY WITHIN HIS PARTY, AS DELEGATES AND LUO MPS COME CLOSE TO EXCHANGING BLOWS.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
THE Orange party leaders at the weekend witnessed some of the ugliest seeds of disunity sowed by the party secretariat in Nairobi, as several branches sent two parallel delegates to the party meeting held in Homa-Bay, mainly to reconcile the warring officials at the branches in Luo-Nyanza.
These incidents were the result of corruptions, and lack of direction at the party headquarters, where the top official had issued two certificates to the losers of the last year party elections, at the instructions of unnamed top party leader, to ascertain his favored groups participation, despite having lost the branch election at the grassroots.
The branches affected by double registrations were Rangwe, Rongo, Nyakach, Karachuonyo, and other places.
Scores of people were injured when delegates suspected to be allied to the former area MP, Ochillo Ayacko, tried to evict the delegates allied to the incumbent, Dalmas Otieno, who is also the Minister for Public Service, by forceful means, sparking off a near fist fight. The situation was eventually calmed down when the delegates allied to Dalmas Otieno were recognized, while those allied to Ayacko were ejected out of the meeting.
Two MPs, Prof. Ayiech Olueny {Muhoroni} and his Nyando counterpart, Fred Outa were again at each other, as Muhoroni delegates allied to Prof Ayiecho tried to heckle out Outa as he was making a speech.
But the ugliest incident occurred when two sets of delegates from Nyakach constituency confronted each other. When Mr.Apuoyo, the ODM chairman stood up to address the meeting, the area MP, Pollyn Ochieng’ Daima confronted him, and grabbed the microphone. But the former Nyakach MP, Peter Odoyo joined the fray, and scuffles broke out between the two, as their supporters closed in for a fight. Daima was roughed up pretty good by Nyakach delegates.
The meeting held at Homa-Bay tourist Hotel was attended by the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, the Rongo MP, Dalmas Otieno, who is the Public Service Minister, Public Works Minister Chris M. Obure, Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgei, who is also the national chairman of the ODM, Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, the Minister for medical Services, who is the party Secretary General, Omingo Magara, the former South Mugirango MP, who is the party’s national Treasurer, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, Migori MP John Pesa, who is the chairman of Nyanza MP Forum, Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga, Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Ahmed Shabir, Gwasi MP John Mbadi, Karachuonyo MP Eng. James Rege, Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, nominated ‘MP Millie Odhiambo.,Muhoroni MP Prof Ayiecho Olueny, Nyando MP Fred Outa, Nyakach MPOchieng’ Daima.
Rangwe MP, Martin Otieno Ogindo set the stage, when he bitterly criticized the ODM Secretariat for having registered the two sets of branch officials in his constituency, at the alleged instigation of his former rival, who lost the seat in 2007, Eng.Okundi, who is the current chairman of the ODM Elections Board.
A request by the Nyanza ODM coordinator, Mrs Monica Amolo, that there should be direct nominations during the next general elections in the troubled branches was met with booing and cat calls. Mrs Amolo came under the wrath of Ndhiwa delegation, which seemed not to recognize her role, when she questioned the reason and rationale behind why Ndhiwa MP, Joshua Orwa Ojodeh is always not appearing in the functions conducted by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
But using his political magnanimity and diplomatic prowess, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga played down all sorts of accusations the delegates levelled at each othe,r and told them point blank, to recognize and work with the elected MPs.
Raila Odinga, who is the party leader, told the close to 1000 delegates that he had full confidence in all the present MPs from the region, and requested the delegates to give the MPs time to deliver the services to the electorate.
The Prime Minister, who came to the meeting after he had commissioned the construction o the Homa-Bay Mbita Road at the Mbita Point, in Mbita constituency, in the company of the Roads Minister, Chris M Obure, hammered the point home, insisting that the splinter groups must abandon their wrangling at the branches, and work hand in hand with the elected leaders in order to expedite the development in the region.
The ODM Nyanza Coordinator, Mrs Monica Amolo, who is a perennial parliamentary election loser in Ndhiwa constituency, was at pains when asked by the party leader Raila Odinga, to explained what had happened at the meeting, and why delegates were squabbling in the party branches in Luo Nyanza, and are being sponsored and instigated by former MPs, who lost their seats during the 2007 general elections.
But in a speech, which looked like a stage managed maneuver to lock out Omingo Magara from getting direct nomination to recapture his South Mugirango seat, which was recently nullified by the High Court, delivered by the Nyando MP Fred Outa, he told the meeting that ODM must ensure that democracy thrives, by giving the electorate a chance to pick up a candidate of their own choice.
The observers and political pundits alike were quick in pointing out that Outa, who claims to be the confidant of the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga was not speaking from the blue moon or the sky, but with the complete knowledge of the inner thinking of the ODM top leadership, following the recent revelation that Omingo Magara had requested the party leadership to consider the possibility of issuing him with a direct nomination.
In his address to the gathering, Omingo Magara, who is the ODM national treasurer, told the delegates that the party risked falling apart due to its seemingly endless internal political wrangling.
“We must not allow ourselves to fight every now. We will lose all our generals and in the end we shall be the loser. We must remain united and look ahead”, the former South Mugirango said.
Minister James Orengo {Lands} Anyang” Nyong’o {Medical Services} also spoke about the need for the party to maintain its unity and to stop petty internal squabbles.
The best, but hardest hitting speech was delivered by the Road Minister, Chris Obure, who told the ODM party leaders to go to the grassroots and resolve these disputes.
Obure said that, just like the party leader Raila Odinga, the entire leadership must exhibit predictability, consistency , firmness and fairness as regards to the party’s day to day management. The party secretariat came under severest criticism for the alleged corruption, which has seen squabbles in various branches, where two sets of officials have been registered.
It was also noted that even in those branches, like Karachuonyo, Rongo, Nyakach and other places where the fresh polls had been ordered, and the election repeated, the secretariat once again ended up registering two sets of branch officials. And this has been the bone of contention and endless wrangling.
Eng Phillip Okundi, the chairman of the ODM Election Board also came under scathing criticism by delegates for being party to the irregular registration of branches.
It became clear to the political pundits that the rift and divisions within the ODM party are caused by those classified as “power brokers”, who peddle a lot of bad gossips, claiming to be having the ears of the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
Some of the so-called “think tank of power brokers”openly express their displeasure towards the Luo MPs who can not succumb to their begging spree, and after failing to get handouts, spread deadly rumors about the so-called “unwanted leaders” MPs who is alleged to have fallen out of favor with the party leader, Raila Odinga
Our investigation revealed that some of the so-called power brokers are in reality, nowhere near the PM, and hardly meet or talk to him, but are just a bunch of common beggars, out to frustrate the MPs. But now that the Prime Minister has expressed his confidence in the current crop of MPs, this will hopefully bring to an immediate end the seemingly endless wrangling in the branches and put it to rest.
The Industrialization Minister, Henry Kosgei, who is the national chairman of the ODM, said the wrangling were the sign of maturity and healthy internal competitive politics, and might not be fizzled out so quickly. “As leaders, we shall do all that we can within our reach to ensure democracy in the party. We are going out flat to consolidate our strategies for the 2012 General Election, and we hope to have Mr. Raila Odinga as the next president,” said Kosgei.
The firm stands against the people who are hell bent on harassing the sitting MPs is considered as a slap in the face on the so-called power brokers, who operates mainly in Kisumu and Nairobi.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
One would think that Nyanza MPs had learned from past mistakes. The province that was considered a “breadbasket,” became a laughing stock, a beggar & reduced to size by the Kenyatta & Moi administrations. We were collectively punished after Tom Mboya’s assassination & Mzee Jaramogi Odinga’s exit from Kenyatta’s govt. Moi came to power and did the same crap. He marginalized & divided Nyanza from the rest of Kenya – coining the word “Luo Nyanza” as if there were no other ethnic groups living in Nyanza province. True economic development was never to be extended to Nyanza because the Luos were perceived to be anti-govt. The current Nyanza MPs must work together & in harmony with the rest of the country to bring more beef (economic development) to the people of Nyanza. We are seeing some improvements under Kibaki’s administration. The rehabilitation of key industries in the province, road repairs, expansion of Kisumu airport & the CDF allotment, etc… have brought some measure of economic activities in the province. We urge the MPs who lost in 2002 & 2007 to stop brewing pot and find a life! They should learn from our past politicians like Hon. Onyango Ayodo, Dennis Akumu, Odero Jowi and the rest, who accepted defeat and never looked back to undermine the peoples’ choices.
I SHOULD BE VERY MUCH DELIGHTED TO GETIN TOUCHG WITH mR, sOLO oiGADO {ARINGA} AND PLEASE TRELL HIM TO CONTACT ME THE SOONEST. HE IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE.
LEO ODERA OMOLO
leooderaomolo@yahyoo.com
well beyond the semantics of ‘the forest needs to be saved’ which is pretty obvious, why would Raila champion a cause that was sure to destroy his party?
There is an environment minister (who happily comes from PNU), why not let Wekesa carry this baby? Am not undermining the need to save the mau rather why has the Mau taken the shape of Raila?
if it needed a high level backer, why not let Kibaki, who is on his second and last term carry this unpopular baby? most presidents execute unpopular but necessary reforms in their last term.
In-fact political genius would have been to give this baby to his opponent to carry. For Raila to wail about Mau being a government policy is naive. Of course his opponents would cast it in the least favourable light to him as possible. What on earth was he expecting? accolades from kalonzo and Uhuru?
I initially thought that raila took it on because he wanted to get rid of Ruto. I assumed he had a fall back plan. Clearly from the demise of the parliamentary goverment idea, the bridges have been burnt and there is no fall back plan. He really has jumped from the plane without a parachute
Hurrah To people of Rangwe!
It’s real and open that the enemy of developement in Rangwe Constituency is defeated this time round. Hon. Philip, the former MP, who has not believed to date that the people of Rangwe lost confidence in him and replaced him with Hon. Ogindo, a young developemnt concious man, was told by the constituents that his time had expired and he should not make any attemp of disturbing the peoples’ MP (Hon.Ogindo) any more.
Rangwe is one of the constituencies that has suffered severely due to political wrangles. Although it is the first time it is having a real MP who is capable of liberating it and pushing it to the desired heights in terms of developement, some political sycophants had started frustrating his efforts of giving the people of rangwe the real developement they voted him for.
What happened on the day PM. Raila visited the area should therefore tell his enemies that people of Rangwe are still with Hon. Ogindo. i therefore encourage Hon. to stand on his feet and just starting with me, We are giving him the support he deserves until the actual fruits of his leadership is realized in this constituency.
To young people who are prone to handouts, please relax and look for good things you can present to the MP in terms of developement and you will realize that Ogindo is the real change rangwe has been waiting for.
I also know that, most of Rangwe Constituency Cllrs are the first handout seekers from the various prliamentary candidates. I tell them to do their jobs because on the next election, each one of them will come and tell us what he/she has done. The people they are following are going nowhere. Let them follow the MP for that is the surest way they can bring us developement in our wards.
To those who are eying the seat, I politely ask you to stop malice against the peoples’ MP and enjoy your democratic rights of contesting the seat. if you have something for us to eat, i assure that we shall not chase away the food but at the end of it, we shall vote change. and who is that change? Hon. Otieno Ogindo.
Unity will be the beginning of our growth.
The so called Luo Nyanza was academically eons ahead a few years ago…where has this intellectual pool disappeared to?
Are they in the diaspora? If yes, we need to get in touch with them for various ways of economically supporting the future generation.
I have a few ideas in mind ! are there any like minds out there? Get in touch and let’s propel ourselves into action…
If the current state of affairs is something to go by, the future of this region is appalling to say the least. Never mind the fact that CDF is in place and is actually being depleted every year.
Worried
nyanyakach
Luos in the Diaspora:
Thanks Nyarnyakach. I am also wuod Nyakach Koguta and you can reach me through kowuor2002@yahoo.com as part of the networking you are talking about. To start with, we have to blame ourselves for some of the problems like for the misuse of CDF. The offices of CDF are within the constituencies where all the electorate can reach. What are the people doing or waiting for once they know the funds are not used properly? Can’t they demostrate to the offices and demand answers or equal representation to the CDF boards. We cannot keep blaming the Government even on issues that we can handle at the local level. It is high time we learn that development is our right, NOT favour from the MPs. MPs will come and go but the CDF will remain because it is from the Government.
Luos intellectuals are both in the Diaspora and in the country, but they are frustrated because of the way politics have become dirty and taken the centre stage. How do you explain a situation whereby the Head Office of ODM issues two parallel Nominations which are all valid? How do we talk of fighting corruption when even at party level, things are being done this way. Without the wishes of the poeple being considered, we shall continue to see only arrogant, violent and illiterate people find their way to Parliament. Even Parliament has lost meaning because the majority are there due to the fat pay and allowances. The don’t care about the rest. All is not lost though because as the Younger Generation, we have seen this and something will have to be done. It will require the brave and a revolutionary tactic to handle these challenges.
I AM ONLY WAITING TO BE TOLD WHY PEOPLE WERE GIVEN NOMINATION PAPERS FROM HEAD OFFICE, YET THEY FAILED THE NOMINATION BY THE PEOPLE AND TILL THIS MOMENT, NOBODY HAS EVEN TRIED TO RESOLVE THE MATTER FOR FEAR OF “ROCKING THE PARTY BOAT”. IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF NOTHING IS DONE. To me, this was the worst form of CORRUPTION because lots of money exchanged hands. Who received the monies?
As for Nyakach, Myself and like-minded people like “nyanyakach”, have started like tributaries that will soon link up to become a river that shall have to reach the Ocean.
Thanks