Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga addresses delegates during the National Governing Council held at the Bomas of Kenya on December 5, 2014. Odinga has called a meeting of Luo elders at his Opoda home in Bondo, on Sunday, to discuss a wide range of issues, including suggestions by a section of leaders that he should seek the Homa Bay Senate seat. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
In Summary
A few members of the Homa Bay county assembly have also been invited to the meeting where the possibility of Mr Odinga’s candidature will be on the table.
He said that if Mr Odinga offers himself as a candidate, it will provide him with a forum to reach out to millions of Kenyans.
The county is home to most of the MPs branded rebels for agitating for internal change with the ODM establishment. They include Mr James Rege (Karachuonyo), Mr Sylvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), Mr George Oner (Rangwe) and Mr Augustinho Neto (Ndhiwa). advertisement
By ISAAC ONGIRIMore by this Author
ODM leader Raila Odinga has called a meeting of Luo elders at his Opoda home in Bondo Sunday to discuss a wide range of issues, including suggestions by a section of leaders that he should seek the Homa Bay Senate seat.
Despite opposition to the proposal for the former Prime Minister to enter the Senate, some of Mr Odinga’s allies are determined that he contest the seat left vacant by the death last month of one of his key lieutenants, Otieno Kajwang’.
The by-election is slated for February 2, but political parties are expected to confirm their candidates by December 19 in primaries. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission gave January 5 and 6, 2015 as the dates for receiving nomination papers.
The elders being assembled at Mr Odinga’s home Saturday have been carefully selected from the entire region and include elected leaders.
The Sunday Nation has learnt the group will include the new ODM chairman and Suba MP John Mbadi, the Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay Central MP Opondo Kaluma, Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, nominated MP Dr Oburu Oginga and at least 50 elders.
NO COMPETITION
A few members of the Homa Bay county assembly have also been invited to the meeting where the possibility of Mr Odinga’s candidature will be on the table.
When contacted Mr Mohammed said: “This is a routine exercise. We will be strategising on how to handle the Homa Bay senatorial seat broadly and also planning for the Kajiado Central seat.
We have already asked the Jubilee side not to field a candidate — they have poached our MP (Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Joseph Nkaissery) and we must be allowed to sponsor a candidate unopposed.”
Mr Mohammed will be squarely in charge of the two by-elections after the National Governing Council on Friday picked him as the party’s director of elections moments after Mr Odinga proposed the creation of the new powerful office.
On Wednesday, a group of ODM MPs urged Mr Odinga to consider running for the Homa Bay seat. But the former PM is yet to comment on the matter.
On Saturday, Mr Kaluma, who is in Arusha on official business, said the Opoda meeting is not meant to confirm Mr Odinga’s proposed candidature.
“We have expressed support for Mr Odinga to run. This is not unusual, there are so many other world leaders before him who did the same previously after holding higher offices. You know the story of Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Gordon Brown of Britain and many more,” he said.
SERIOUS PROPOSAL
He said that if Mr Odinga offers himself as a candidate, it will provide him with a forum to reach out to millions of Kenyans.
“I know Mr Odinga is not interested in coming to the Senate. Moments after we addressed the press last week he called me. He was concerned that we did it without consulting him. Remember, I had even offered to resign for him to take over my parliamentary seat,” Mr Kaluma said.
And Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga who also spoke to The Sunday Nation moments after he came back from the United States said the matter required time to be thoroughly discussed.
“We should consider it if it is going to add value to our politics. I do not want to be in the group that is opposing it if somehow it is going to help us achieve something. But if in some way it will not help us then we must drop it,” he said.
Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga, who first suggested that Mr Odinga should run, said more meetings will be held in four counties in Luo Nyanza to come up with a firm decision on the matter.
He dismissed those who have said the idea was a joke.
“We are serious we want Mr Odinga to contest as part of our preparation for the 2017 elections. Candidates in Homa Bay who are interested in this position must swallow their pride and look at the bigger picture,” he said.
UNFORTUNATE PROPOSAL
It is not the first time Mr Odinga’s allies are pushing for a way to have him back in Parliament.
In 2013, some allies of the ODM leader were said to have approached Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura to step down for him.
“Yes I was approached to step down for Mr Odinga. While I would not refuse to give way to him, I thought it would not have been a bright idea to have him as minority leader (in the National Assembly) while Mr Aden Duale is majority leader,” Mr Obura said, alluding that Mr Duale is junior to the former PM.
After he declined to give way, pressure was turned on Kibra MP Mr Ken Okoth who also declined to resign.
At the same time 17 ODM officials from eight constituencies in the county issued a statement condemning attempts to drag Mr Odinga into the race.
“We the chairmen and secretaries of all eight ODM branches that make the county branch hereby reject the unfortunate proposal by a section of ODM MPs principally from outside Homa Bay that the party leader contests for the Homa Bay senatorial seat,” read part of the statement.
The group led by the party’s Suba branch chairman Ken Oure told Mr Odinga to be conscious of a local agreement among the eight constituencies on how to share the top county positions. In 2013, a pre-election pact on key elective positions was arrived at among the three blocs in the county.
The greater Rachuonyo was to get the governor’s slot; Homa Bay town, Rangwe and Ndhiwa constituencies were to provide a candidate for the Woman Representative while Mbita and Suba constituencies were given the Senate seat. Positions in the county assembly were also divided.
“This is demeaning to our party leader. We are warning these MPs to keep off the affairs of Homa Bay County. The only county in the ODM strongholds that elected its governor, senator and MPs from ODM,” read the statement.
HOME TO REBELS
Elders from the region led by the Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Mr Willis Otondi and his predecessor Mr Riaga Ogallo urged Mr Odinga to ignore the appeals of the MPs.
“We have been so hopeful that Mr Odinga will become President after the coming election. It is so destructing that while we put focus on the presidency someone wants him to become a mere senator,” Mr Otondi said.
And Mr Ogallo said Mr Odinga does not come from Homa Bay County and that it would be embarrassing for him to get into confrontation with county leaders.
Several candidates including two of Mr Odinga’s former aides, Mr Caroli Omondi and Mr Silas Jakakimba, have already hit the ground running as they campaign to succeed Mr Kajwang’.
Mr Jakakimba has been endorsed by Suba elders. The late senator’s brother Moses Kajwang’ and former National Social Security Fund Managing Trustee Fred Rabongo, who comes from Kajwang’s Waondo village, have also announced their intention to run.
The race may also include former MPs Philip Okundi and Martin Ogindo, Dr Kenneth Kambona, Mr Herbert Ojwang’, Mr Hillary Alila and Mr Odoyo Owidi.
“It will be unfair for Mr Odinga to attempt to seek a position from this side while he knows very well he is not a resident of Homa Bay County. If he does I will contest and am sure I will give him a run for his money,” Mr Owidi said.
The county is home to most of the MPs branded rebels for agitating for internal change with the ODM establishment. They include Mr James Rege (Karachuonyo), Mr Sylvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), Mr George Oner (Rangwe) and Mr Augustinho Neto (Ndhiwa).
THE FINAL SAY
Mr Magwanga, Mr Mbadi, Mr Kaluma and Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo are considered Mr Odinga’s allies in the county.
Meanwhile, the ODM leadership could go for direct nomination to pick a candidate to contest the Homa Bay seat in the February 2 by-election. The IEBC gave all parties until December 19 to nominate their flag bearers.
A number of MPs have floated the idea of party leader Raila Odinga contesting the seat to replace the late Senator Kajwang’.
In light of this, those who had shown interest in the seat are said to be holding secret discussions with Cord affiliate parties to get nomination certificates just in case the ODM certificate goes to Mr Odinga.
But Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who is also ODM secretary for political affairs said the people of Homa Bay will have the final say on who becomes their senator.
“The seat is precious to us; we will stop at nothing to recapture it; nomination of a satisfactory candidate is the answer to getting the seat,” he said.
ODM is the dominant party in the county and whoever gets the ticket is likely to carry the day.
