Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga last Friday made a spirited effort in a bid to reconcile the feuding members of the Luo Council of Elders, but his arbitration flopped badly as each one of the feuding camps stuck to their guns.

The meeting was held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall, which is located at Kibuye on the Kisumu-Kakamega highway

It was the first time the Prime Minister faced such a rowdy and hostile crowd within the Luo-Nyanza, but he made good use of his political magnanimity to neutralize thre whole exercises paving the room for orderly meeting.

And it is hoped the decision he and his colleague are going to make will be in the interest of the majority because any unpopular move to retain Riaga Ogalo at the helm of the embattled Luo Council of Elders could have a serious political repercussion for the PM’s leadership in the region.

Raila was accompanied by two cabinet ministers Gerald Otieno Kajwang’[Immigration},James Agrey Orengo {Lands}, Two Assistant ministers Dr.Obiri Ogingas {Fiance and Prof. Ayiecho Olueny {Education}. Also in attendance were MPS John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West}, Polin Ochieng” Daima {Nyakach},. John Mbadi {Gwassi}, Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike} John Pesa {Miogori}, Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo},Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem} and Cyprian Ojwang” Omolo Uriri}.

Tension was high at Ofafa Memorial Hall and its environs as the meeting had attracted a large crowd of uninvited crowd of people. The hall was filled to capacity by a large number of people who had invaded the venue and even seized all the seats reserved for the invited representatives of the various ,but unexpected crowd apparently after the word had gone around that the Prime Minister was due to install the new Ker Opiyo Otondi.

And this was what was spelt out in the invitation letters which sent to individuals and groups inviting them to the venue of the ceremony. The newly elected Ker, a retired former Deputy Provincial Commissioner in the government had come to the venue armed with traditional regalia of beaded hut, gowns and {Ragwar} a piece of long wooden walking stick with two heads signifying a symbol of peace.

Former Ker chairman Meshack Riaga Ogalo had difficulties accessing the venue. He was temporarily prevented from entering the hall by supporter said his rival Opiyo Otondi who insisted he was uninvited guest and an outsider. But Ogalo took the advantage of the Prime Minister’s arrival and squeezed himself among the PM’s security details and forced his way to the dais where he sat beside Raila while Otondi sat on the other side with the Raila in the middle.

Earlier the supporters of Otondi and his group had at some point prevented two MPs james Orengoi and Dr Oburu OIginga from entwering the venue accusing them of supporting the iusted Riaga Ogalo’s group. And when Dr. Oburtu Oginga during his brief address which was punctuated with Boeing and heckling suggested that if the that election of the Otondi group was not properly conducted then there should be afr5esh election to have the matter solved once and for all, he was greeted with heckling and boeing forcing him to sit down.

Orengo who acted as the master of ceremony, changed the tune when he told the attentive crowd that it was the Prime Minister who had called for the meeting so that an effort could be made to reconcile the two feuding factions. Orengo then called for the delegates from the various constituencies to account and identify themselves where they were seated.

Orengo then called two elder from warring groups to address the meeting. One of the was Mzee Michael Odote Kojiem from Nyando who explained the meeting about the problems the elders had with the ousted chairman Meshak Riaga Ogalo’s leadership.

From Ogalo’s side Orengo called Mzee Yusto Ondigo Oyoo, who identified himself as a businessman in Kisumu town.Oyoo disputed that there was no election and that what ius claimed to be election was a meeting helf during the night. But his voice was cut down by intensified heckling. The second speaker was Ex-Senior Chief Omolo Anditi from Rusinga Island who accused the ousted chairman as playing dirty politics and even seeking friendship with unidentified politician who are opposed to Raila Odinga. He also mentioned the chairman secretive trip to Libya, which he claimed other Council members were not aware and only become aware through the press. Mzee Anditi also said he detested Riaga Ogalo collaborating with Kamlish Patni.

The Kisumu Town West MP John Olago Aluoch just rolled out of his pocket a copy of letter from the registrar of society which explained that the new team led by Mzee Opiyo Otondi had been duly registered as the new office bearers of the Luo Council of Elders and that Riaga Ogalo’s group’s registration had been cancelled.

He MP who spoke at the meeting expressed their support for the new team saying a change was inevitable because the former chairman had proved to be not a cohesive person but worked as lone ranger. Migori MP John Pesa, who is the chairman of the Luo Parliamentary group told Mzee Riaga Ogalo on his face to step aside peaceful and the community would prayer for his long life.

The new Ker Opiyo Otondi in address narrated in detail how some year back when the former chairman of the Council Mzee Joash Koyo Opien died. “We sat down as members of the executive and voted for Mzee Hesbon Otieno Omanjo an accountant by profession from Kanyamkago. But it was the advice of the Prime Minister, who told us that Omanjo was from Alego the sub-0clans of his uncles and that his anointing would reflect badly to other people who could sparked bad rumors and bad talk that He {Raila} had anointed his uncle to be the Ker of the Luo Council of Elders. And that it was It was Raila who had suggested the name of Mzee Riaga Ogalo. And because we all respected as our leader we succumbed to his request though reluctantly. But ever since that time it had been a nightmare working with Ogalo. We have heard allegation of begging and even harassing and intimidating MPs. We also conducted the election after we were told by the Prime Minister in June that we were there on acting capacity, and that it was time we conducted election to legitimize ourselves and we just did that”, said Otondi amid prolonged applause.

IMMIGREATIO Minister Otieno Kajwang’ accused the ousted chairman Riaga of creating conflict with MPs, saying that he had caused bad blood by taking sides on political local issues. He said if the situation remained unchanged he personally would push for the abolition and dissolution if the Council.

Orengo told the gathering that it was in bad taste for anyone to move to court instituting legal matters seeking for the judicial redress of the leadership of the Council and advised Mzee Riaga to apologize for his actions.

In his address the Prime Minister narrated the history of “Ker” giving the example of the Kabakaship in Buganda. He all the time the Kabaka must be one man reign of power. In the same context the issues surrounding the institution of Ker must be emphasized that the Luo community can only be one at a time. This is institution must be jealously protected and preserved.

He emphasized the need for elder to work in harmony and give cuotur4alguidabncetothe community and should not waste their time on useless squabbling.

A the end the Prime Minister told the inquisitive crowd to disperse saying he and the MPs and selected elders would sit down consult each other over the leadership wrangling with the Luo Council of Elders and the issue would be communicated to the public at an appropriate time

But a source claiming to be close to Raila has confided to us that the Prime Minister would ensure that the protection those who had served his late father .Jaramogi Oginga Odinga faithfully and loyally. This is the category on which Mzee Riaga Ogalo fall under.

But judging from speeches by the MPs and other elders, Mzee Riaga Ogalo could just simply throw in the towel.. The entire Luo community some to be uncomfortable with his leadership, and the sooner he pack up and go home the better. He seemed to have rubbed shoulder with everyone among the Luo political leadership the wrong way. Other accusation include his political,associatio9n with the High Education Minister, the man who has vowed to make things difficult for Raila Odinga in 2012.

Earlier Otondi had told the enthusiastic crowd that upon Riaga return home after his first trip to Libya with Kamlesh Patni, had donated a Matatu Van to the Luo Council o Elder, but the council had rejected Mr Patni donation of van and told Riaga to make good use of it as a personal, property.

The meeting ended with no proper solution to the dispute over who is the Ker and the community eagerly waiting to get on which he would be performing the official installation of the new Ker Opiyo Otondi.

Raila had obviously read the mood of the community that a change was inevitable in order to make the Luo Council of elder a popular vehicle for progress and economic development.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com