Luo MPs issues ultimatum over Raila succession
4 min read
MPs from Luo Nyanza want an open Raila succession race after the ODM leader endorsed Joho and Oparanya
MPs from Luo Nyanza want an open Raila succession race after the ODM leader endorsed Joho and Oparanya.
The political rivalry between Raila Odinga and some of his fellow lawmakers in Nyanza has taken a new turn as they cautioned against narrowing the fight to a two-horse race.
The latest opposition reveals the escalating conflicts within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) around Raila’s succession bid.
This comes after Raila endorsed his two deputies Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya to succeed him should he win the African Union Commission chairperson job.
Several politicians from the local region of Luo Nyanza argue that the region has to have a fair share of leadership as the party’s political cornerstone, and they want his succession battle to be open to all candidates, not only Joho and Oparanya.
Ruth Odinga, a woman representative from Ksumu and sister of Raila, asserted that as Nyanza provides the majority of the ODM’s support, it ought to be allowed to vote in its own leader election in the event that the post becomes open.
“ODM is a national party with diverse communities that we cannot limit its succession, if any, to two individuals. We have many loyal and consistent members with the capability and expertise to lead this party,’’ she said.
“We have the Orange Women democrats and we also feel liming this contest to two male individuals is being insensitive to the female gender.’’
The MP added that any aspirants forming camps without women would be in for a rude shock.
Rarienda MP Otiende Amollo said there is no way the Raila succession matrix can be discussed without the involvement of the Luo Community.
“We have told him(Raila) that politically as a community, we also have able leaders to take up the mantle,’’ he told mourners at a funeral in Siaya over the weekend.
However, Muhoroni MP Onyango K’Oyoo argued that leadership in ODM is not achieved through elevation or election.
“The leadership emerges. Raila was never elected but rather erupted or emerged,’’ he said.
Awendo MP Walter Owino argued that should Raila relinquish the position, then it should be open for any member to contest.
“We should never embrace handpicking of leaders in boardrooms because ODM is a national party….if Raila exits, bearing in mind that Nyanza forms the majority of the membership of this party, the region must also be accorded equal opportunity to produce a candidate in the contest,’’ he said.
Raila must decide on AU Commission job or presidential persuit; Ruto allies
Uhuru Kenyatta attends an inaugural AU Commission meeting in Addis
Outrage as man hacks wife and daughter to death
African Censored exposes how farmers were sold sand disguised as subsidized fertilizer
This is even as National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi insisted that Raila should be the undisputed OM party leader whether he wins the AUC position or not.
“But in the event, for whatever reason, the Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga chooses to step aside from the leadership of ODM upon clinching the AUC chairmanship, then the field shall be open,’’ Wandayi said at his Nairobi office on Monday.
“I want to debunk very strongly this notion, this false narrative of something akin to what we call duopoly in marketing that if by any chance a vacancy arises in the leadership of ODM then it will be for two persons to compete, nothing could be further from the truth.”
The Ugunja MP said that everybody would be free to seek to lead ODM including himself.
“I may present my name for that position. As you all know, I have studied Baba for a very long time since when I was 20 years old and now I am 50 years old. This is a long time so nothing stops me from presenting my name for such a position if it were to fall vacant, an eventuality that I don’t foresee now and in the near future,’’ Wandayi said.
“If I were to offer myself, I would be doing it in extremely good faith to protect the movement from possible capture by reactionary forces and to ensure that the movement lives up to its expectations and those of the people.”
The ODM party is planning to hold its countrywide elections next month amid fears that the factional wars could spill over to the polls.
Also read,
US exposes popular Kenyan bus company for supporting Al-Shabaab
No court will print pleadings and documents from July 1; CJ Koome
Government issues update on police deployment to Haiti after US call
EACC orders immediate stoppage of salary payments to some civil servants
Ruto administration initiates plan to form new company to give small traders loans
Azimio unveils its 2022 presidential election audit team
Follow us
