The recently concluded Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) primaries exhibited three isms; cronyism, nepotism and favouritism. Losers were muscled back using fake excuses that left the electorate disenfranchised, especially in Luo-Nyanza and Western Province. Whether the Party honchos did it explicitly through law, or implicitly by intimidation or by placing unreasonable requirements, the initially enthusiastic supporters became very disappointed.
Although this article focuses on ODM, the party’s main competitor, The National Alliance (TNA), had its share of electoral complaints which have been tabled before the IEBC by dissatisfied aspirants. A good example is the resolved case of Othaya constituency in which Mary Wambui was awarded then robbed the nomination certificate. This article is a personal reflection of events that ensued in Luo-Nyanza, which should be critically examined by supporters of ODM from the point of view of internal party democracy.
The sham nomination exercise has seen the return of Party loyalists that were clearly beaten and should have conceded defeat. The ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o was floored in his Kisumu senatorial bid and instead of accepting it, he complained of having been rigged out. There were rumours that he had defected to Wiper (an affiliate in the CORD coalition) to have his name on the ballot, come the General Election on March 4, 2013. Through some ism by ODM’s National Election Board, Nyong’o got a direct nomination and will very likely become senator. In addition, he has just won the NHIF scandal court battle, while the taxpayer is left poorer because money was lost on his watch as Medical Services minister. Nyong’o is a former social-democrat-leaning politician now turned into a heartless capitalist. Last year, he told the media to go and count bodies in the mortuaries to know how many patients had died during the then nurses’ strike.
Former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, who is also the Chief Whip of ODM, was ‘whipped’ out of his parliamentary bid, yet could not accept it and complained to the ODM National Election Board that he had been rigged out, could not have lost the seat, and so forth. It is said he demanded a recount of the votes. Anyway, he has emerged the winner and will definitely represent the constituency after March elections. Midiwo had repeatedly mentioned before that he would still represent Gem, regardless of arising challenges. He is also Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s cousin.
Dr. Oburu Odinga, Raila’s eldest brother and former Bondo MP, was floored in his Siaya County gubernatorial bid by one William Oduol. The County residents clearly wanted change and it is said Oduol had been on the campaign trail for two years, reaching out to the locals and establishing projects in his home area. He was a fresh breath, considering that over the years, many have not considered Oburu as a development-oriented representative. Moreover, as the Finance assistant minister, he never challenged any financial scandals that dogged the ministry during the tenure of former Finance minister, Uhuru Kenyatta. There were rumours that Oburu used to be given his ‘cut’ to keep quiet.
‘Big brotherism’ and nepotism
Dr. Oburu did not concede defeat and lodged a complaint with the ODM Election Board. Meanwhile, he told the media that he did not see how his bid for governorship would jeopardize Raila’s bid for the Presidency. What he did not want to accept is the escalating loathe within a section of Luo-Nyanza for Odiangaism. Prior to the primaries, there was a feeling from many in Luo-Nyanza that even though the Odingas have a constitutional right to contest any elective seat in the country, parading siblings and relatives when Raila is going for the ‘big-seat’ would reflect negatively. Furthermore, why just the Odingas yet there are a myriad of others who have development track records in these areas, even if they have not been MPs? Media reports indicated Oduol had defeated Oburu, but when the Nyanza ODM regional coordinator Monica Amolo, who was overseeing the elections emerged from a visit to Oburu’s rural home, she declared him the winner. Ironically, last year Amolo was on Jeff Koinange’s K24 program ‘The Bench’, lamenting how she had been repeatedly rigged out of her former parliamentary quests in Ndhiwa constituency. Why then, did she overturn Oduol’s win?
Both Oburu and Oduol were disqualified and replaced by one Okanja, who got a direct nomination. How the Election Board chairman Franklin Bett came to this conclusion remains a myth, because the ‘back door’ return of these sore losers has been done without the procedures being made public. It won’t be a surprise if Oburu gets a direct nomination for an elective post sooner or later.
Insiders suggest that the majority of Alego people in Siaya County did not want Oburu and voted against him. However, having supported their son Oduol, they had to be punished by nullifying him. It is said Okanja is from Bondo, Oburu’s home area. There was further confusion when the same ticket was awarded to one Amoth, who is related to the Odingas.
In Kisumu County, there was another bitter voter disenfranchisement when Raila’s younger sister Ruth Adhiambo Odinga, lost her gubernatorial bid, only to run around complaining of having been rigged out. Kisumu residents stated very well through their votes that another Odinga was not going to lead them. They did so by voting in Jack Ranguma and gave Raila’s sister an abysmal 1000 or so votes. There was a rumour soon after that she had been nominated as Governor, causing an uproar that exploded into street riots and running battles between the youth and police. Ruth conceded defeat and asked for peace for the sake of Raila’s bid and the County’s progress. However, the latest news indicates that she has been nominated as Jack Ranguma’s running mate. Talk about being rescued by a powerful brother; another ism.
Intimidation by Party bigwigs
In Nairobi, there was more drama when the former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, was yanked from her senatorial bid to the newly established Ruaraka constituency to vie as MP, yet it was won by Tom Kajwang’, brother of former Mbita MP and Party loyalist, Otieno Kajwang’. Ongoro lamented the loss of KES 200 million that she had spent in the past three years to market herself and said she would sue ODM. Her senatorial seat was then awarded to Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, the former Starehe MP, she who had earlier claimed to be holding appropriate ‘degrees’ and was qualified to contest Nairobi’s gubernatorial seat, only to be discredited by the Commission for Higher Education. Wanjiru should have kept her ambitions within the parliamentary level or if she wanted a senatorial seat, should have expressed it from the start, because she is most likely going to loss badly to TNA’s Gideon Mbuvi alias Sonko, whose senatorial bid is so publicized, he sent ODM veteran Minister Gumo into political retirement.
Franklin Bett was at pains to explain why Ongoro was dropped and replaced with Wanjiru. Accordingly, they had considered the ‘ethnic majority’ in Nairobi, to mean that they had to balance the delicate ‘tribal’ equation. Why couldn’t they think of a boardroom deal much earlier? The latest on Ongoro is that she rejected the MP offer for the sake of peace and support for Raila’s presidential quest.
The above examples were some key ones in the huge mess that was called ODM Party primaries. In Mbita constituency, former nominated MP Millie Odhiambo met animosity alleged to have been engineered by ‘Mapambano’ Kajwang’, in her parliamentary bid. Luo customs were used against her with claims that a married woman cannot return to her birthplace to contest an elective post. It is alleged that a close ally of the Immigration minister was being shoved down the throats of voters instead of Millie, who was their favourite candidate. There was voter intimidation, her convoy was shot at, and all manner of threats were applied, yet she eventually got nominated.
If the primaries are a precursor to the processes expected during the General Election, then ODM is doomed. It was unfair to push the nominations to January 17th, leaving no room for aspirants to pick other options to remain on the ballot. During last year’s Kisumu gubernatorial TV debates, there were prominent women aspirants like Rhoda Ahonobadha and Atieno Otieno who were articulate and had an agenda for the County. However, they must have been seen as newcomers who’d rattle the status-quo, thus were intimidated and probably did not present their names for nomination. ODM just has something against women, especially in Luo-Nyanza. There have not been female MPs elected in this region for the past 15 years; at least since the advent of the former National Democratic Party (NDP). Male politicians should concede defeat when women or younger aspirants beat them.
In Homa Bay, the ‘winning team’ announced by the returning officer after the primaries was reversed, only to have the losers declared winners. Some returning officers in various parts of Luo-Nyanza were threatened by phone calls from the Party headquarters in Nairobi, and fled from the polling stations to announce the imposed winners from safe havens. The real winners, who were immediately declared losers, were branded TNA moles and were therefore replaced with the ‘desirable ones’ by the Party bigwigs.
There were irregularities from the polling station officials who were not keen to scrutinize voters to ensure they had the right voting and identity cards. The media house KTN which was stationed in Luo-Nyanza, had a field day showing these irregularities on TV and the protest marches which for the first time, bore chants against Raila Odinga. Agitation is good in a young democracy like Kenya and for Luo-Nyanza, the voters proved in the primaries that they were not Raila Odinga’s voting machines or robots. They had decided and elected their choice candidates, but were overruled by the dominant isms of the day.
Jared Odero
About the Author
http://www.youtube.com/embed/pa_Yb-WDCuo?autoplay=1&rel=0
Newly published IPSOS/SYNOVATE Presidential opinion polls: Raila Odinga 46%; Uhuru Kenyatta 40%; Musalia Mudavadi 5%; Martha Karua 1%; Peter Kenneth 1%. Sample distribution: 5895 respondents from all the 47 counties:
http://www.ipsos.co.ke/spr/downloads/downloads.php?dir=polls&file=SPEC_Survey_Methodology(Jan%202013
Results: http://www.ipsos.co.ke/spr/downloads/downloads.php?dir=polls&file=Presidential_Alliances%20(January%202013
Uhuru and Raila in tight race – Synovate
Friday, January 25, 2013 – 00:00 — BY LYDIA MATATA
CORD presidential candidate Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s popularity has increased by 12 per cent from 34 per cent to 46 per cent while that of Jubilee flag bearer Uhuru Kenyatta has risen by 13 per cent from 27 per cent to 40 per cent.
This is according to a poll released today by Ipsos Synovate. Musalia Mudavadi comes in third with 5 per cent, Martha Karua 1 per cent, and Peter Kenneth with 1 per cent.
The Cord alliance and the Jubilee alliance have both garnered the most support with Cord having the majority figures of 46 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. Amani alliance follows with 4 per cent, Eagle with 1 per cent and Narc – Kenya 1 per cent.
The results were drawn from a sample of 5,895 registered voters from each of the 47 counties. According to the survey 5 per cent of registered voters are still unsure about which presidential candidate to elect while a further 10 per cent are undecided on which coalition to support.
The Coast province has the most undecided voters on the presidential race with 23 per cent and Western with 17 per cent.
Majority of the voters are also confident that the March 4 general elections will be peaceful with 71 per cent saying that violence is unlikely to occur in their locality.
KENYA: ODM NOMINATION PRIMARIES IN NYANZA WAS A SHAM AND MOCKERY TO DEMOCRATIC TENETS AS IT WAS MARRED BY ACTS OF HOOLIGANISM AND POLITICAL THUGGERY
January 18th 2013
Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
THE just concluded ODM primary in many parts of Luo-Nyanza was a sham reflecting a political movement in crisis with its members.
It has since sparked off discontent and complaints which the party supreme at the headquarters should move with snake speed and have the anomalies rectified before the March 4, 2013.
The primaries were marred by acts of hooliganism and political thuggery of the highest order. The marauding goons moving in groups of between 30 or more made it sure that no credible primary nomination took place.
The outgoing MPs from the region stand blamed for the lawlessness and criminal activities meted out by their supporters to the genuine voters who had turned out in their thousands, ready to cast their votes and choose leaders who would take the community to the next level of development.
The voters in several parliamentary constituencies were in actual sense disenfranchised and denied their voting rights.
In the newly created Kabondo-Kasipul constituency in Rachuonyo South district, the ballot papers and other election material arrived late, close to noon. But some of the aspirants, particularly the populist Hebert Ojwang’ had his name missing from the ballot papers.
In the neighboring Kasipul about 50 goons raided a polling station near Agoro-Sare High School within Oyugis Town and seized all the election materials. The goons sent the presiding officer and his entire team of election clerks fleeing for their dear lives.
Another bunch of hired political goons invaded five polling stations in Kachien location, destroyed ballot papers and other election materials, forcing the stations to be closed prematurely, though the election material had arrived late from Nairobi. Despite the high provocation, the voters persevered and continued voting into the late hours of darkness, but only for the goons to return again, ransacked the polling station, seized the ballot boxes and destroyed them.
In Homa-Bay Town a presiding officer by the name Mulei was ambushed at 4.a.m and beaten senseless and left for the dead by unknown goons. AS A RESULT, BALLOT BOXES AND VOTING Election materials meant for the neighboring constituencies of Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Homa-Bay Town, Rangwe and other places, were displaced or went missing. The region later become awash with rumours of ballot papers being recovered mysteriously at places like Kodiera, Mbita Junction .
Election materials which arrived in Mbita Town were found to be inadequate. However, the aspirants jointly reached a consensus after consultation to produce duplicates of the few ballot papers that had arrived late in the evening, on the first day of the nomination. All the ballot papers and election material were kept at Mbita Town offices of the ODM. But the next morning the office was found to have been broken into and all the material missing or destroyed with no trace.
The same goons are said to have set ablaze dozens of ballot boxes containing ballot papers in Ndhiwa Town, not far away from the local D.C’s office and got away scot-free with this heinous crime. The song was the same in Awendo and Rongo constituencies, as well as in the neighboring Uriri. In all those places, no voting took place on the first day because of non-arrival of the elections materials and the election officials having failed to turn up in time to serve the electorate.
Thousand of the would-be enthusiastic voters who turned out in their thousands went home disappointed after waiting for the whole day with no election material on sight. The situation became so pathetic and the disillusioned and frustrated voters walked home.
From the look of things, it appeared as if all the frustrated outgoing MPs in Luo-Nyanza had conspired secretly with some top officials of the ODM at the Orange house Nairobi, and hatched a secret plan to maintain their status quo.
These anomalies were experienced in Siaya, Migori and all other places. In Siaya, a vehicle packed with crude weapons was intercepted by police and close to 32 occupants nabbed.
In Nyakach, voting did not take place in five sub-location with over 3,000 registered voters, though the returning officer a Mr Okoth, defiantly announced the result in favor of one of the aspirants. Similar incidents were witnessed everywhere.
In some places, even police and members of the Provincial administration appeared to have been compromised. They became toothless bulldogs and made no effort to prevent crime or any act which fueled violence in the polling stations.
What emerged was that political parties are not capable of organizing successful and credible nomination exercises in this country, and the sooner political parties deliberated on this issue and found a solution, the better.
The abrasive Raila Odinga’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo of Gem was one of the leading casualities and so was the Prime Minister’s own elder brother Dr. Oburu Oginga, the Finance Assistant Minister whose bid to become the first governor of Siaya suffered the heaviest blow.
Ends
Party nominations fiasco packed many useful lessons
Tuesday, January 22 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3
By Denise Kodhe
Recent party nominations were not only a sham but also a clear manifestation of failed leadership and disorganisation among political parties in Kenya.
It was also a clear demonstration of immaturity and inadequate preparation by various political to conduct simple and primary activities like nominations.
The nomination exercise failed in most polling stations. Many Kenyans who turned up for nominations in various poling centers across the country were seriously disappointed by the mismanagement of the primary elections by various political parties. The delay caused despondency among voters of various political parties.
Embarrassment
Despite prior assurance by leaders of political parties that the nominations would be conducted efficiently, democratically and fairly without giving special favours to certain candidate’s things turned out in the opposite. It appears that the parties were not prepared at all and were not ready to conduct the exercise.
The sham nomination exercise was a big embarrassment to big political parties like ODM, TNA and URP. Voting in most polling stations did not take place on time as planned. Voting materials were not delivered at the polling stations as pledged.
Logistics for the nominations were not poorly co-ordinated, creating misunderstanding, embarrassment and inconvenience to party members who turned out as early as five in the morning to vote.
Violence and protests rocked various places as a result of rigging and failed nomination. Among those nominated are the same same old faces that according to political observers are recycling themselves to remain politically relevant. We may not realise their dream of seeing real change in Kenya.
Economic dwarves
Most political parties in existence are specifically set out to ensure selection of certain preferred individuals for political position.
Efficient leadership does not only come when one becomes president or occupies a position of leadership. Leadership must have a track record. True leaders are tested and are people that have brought success in various organisations and institutions they have been engaged in or involved with.
The poor performance of leading political parties during the nomination has raised serious questions on their credibility and ability to provide alternative leadership that Kenyans are yearning for.
Most African countries have failed in governance and are political and economic dwarves because of poor leadership and corruption. Political parties are the preferred vehicles to leadership and therefore must demonstrate high level of efficiency, professionalism and up-to-date leadership qualities as the springboard.
Kenya is struggling to develop democratic tenets and governance principles but can learn from the experiences of significant others like South Africa and Ghana. The new constitution leaves politicians no choice but to practice and cherish democratic values and good governance to entrench leadership.
While agreeing with Prof Morris Amutabi among other political scientists there is an urgent need to build structures and institutions within political parties to ensure real practice of democracy.
It is myopic to keep shifting blame and shirking responsibility claiming that Kenyans are not yet matured politically and developed like in other countries. Kenya is now in its 50th year of independence therefore claims such as not being read, prepared, matured or experienced are self-defeating.
Parties must build strong internal systems and structures for ensuring the practice of democracy. Parties should also set out rules and procedures which must be adhered to by all party members and candidates. Such regulations will enable disciplinary measures and mechanism necessary to ensure policies and values of the particular political party are articulated properly.
However, it is very important to build capacities through training in organisation skills, leadership and development of strategies for campaign and communication in preparation for competitive politics.
Political Establishment
Democracy is about respecting democratic ideals, values and principles. It appears, however, that Kenyans still live in the past where democracy is sold to the highest bidder and political survival depends on loyalty to certain political bigwigs and powerful individuals behind the political Establishment. They appear more comfortable with moderated democracy than with real democratic practice.
Coalitions formed by major political parties like Jubilee, CORD, Amani etc. are not formed on the basis of ideology. They are just a conglomeration of political parties to acquire power.
The fear is that Kenyans are likely to be exposed to other post-election political fiascos or violence after the March 4th polls due to disagreements, mistrust and dishonesty over sharing of power and positions.
The writer is Executive Director, Institute for Democracy & Leadership in Africa — IDEA.
Wewe Jared Odero must stop your one sided Fitina. blaming every election scandal on ODM alone and failing to notice the most corruption of buying votes bribing voters by Uhuru Kenyattas TNA and above all You Odero failing to Notice how Kikuyu Govt Under the Same GEMA is releasing Billions from treasury to boost Hegemony , Chauvinism and One ethinical Dominance . I dont know why akina Oderos and coy failing to read the signs of time . There is no way GEMA Ruling class(Mafia) going to hand over Power to Raila Odinga !
Unless the Western Democracy stands together with the Oppressed and Suffocated Kenyan People.
Enjoy The Very dangerous Kenya Othaya Narc Activist who brings Artur Brothers in Kenya and helps Foreigners to get Police Commissioners Rank by State House and the Jezebel who gives Sex to Mwai Kibaki Kenyas President who has abandoned Lucy hence Derilla Extremely sex-life>>
Bwana Jared Odero stop supporting this Gema Evil in kenyas dark history created by Uhuru Muigai Dad Jomo Kenyatta>
Ruth Odinga Blames ODM Over Nomination Woes
By FREDRICK ODIERO
Saturday, 26 January, 2013
A sister to Prime Minister and Cord alliance Presidential candidate Raila Odinga accused the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of allegedly recycling old politicians in Nyanza at the expense of the youth and women.
Ruth Odinga who bowed out of the race for the Kisumu gubernatorial race due to violence, said youth and women got a raw deal from the recently concluded chaotic (ODM) party primaries in Nyanza Province.
Ruth blamed ODM for recycling old leaders and failing to nurture the younger generation to take over the mantle. She said that this trend and rigging claims is likely to impact negatively on Raila’s campaigns in the region. She said that the party was locking out new entrants on flimsy grounds such as lack of experience and ‘loyalty’.
“Octogenarians are sticking to leadership even where some of them genuinely lost in the party nomination exercise, they did not accept defeat,” she said
Speaking to journalists in Kisumu, Ruth wants the party to accommodate the youth and women in other leadership positions in the county. Though she denied that she was angling for any position, the 49 year old chief executive officer of the family business Spectre International said.
“I only withdrew from vying for the post of Governor but I am ready to work and rebuild Kisumu since I have the knowledge and experience,” she added. She withdrew from the Kisumu gubernatorial seat after some youth took the streets in Kisumu town, protesting her controversial win.
She said ODM sidelined women and that in spite of three women having vied for the post of governor in Kisumu; they could not sell their policies due to discrimination.
“Women cannot fight, they do not have the strength and economic empowerment,” he said. She urged electorate to rally behind Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the March 4 Election.
To Human Rights Defender: This is the problem with being petty to the extent of rubbishing me as propagating Fitina. This topic is about ODM and I have been consistent in the text. The geographical area is Luo-Nyanza and I also have a disclaimer that a lot of nomination anomalies were noted in TNA. This is NOT about TNA but ODM; kapish?
You have a lot of space at KSB to ride roughshod over TNA and the GEMA elite as much as you want. So please, stop polluting my thread with your empty emotions. I have written a lot about the ruling elite, Kibaki’s failure in handling grand corruption, etc., but this article focuses on ODM and it is important that the sham nominations be discussed. ODM is not sacred and must be criticized if wrong.
Instead of spending time calling me names, you should be busy writing a follow-up thread either criticizing my content or improving it with more evidence to concur, if at all. You could also write about the TNA angle instead of quipping nonsense and going gaga.
Why don’t you go for the neck of Leo Odera Omolo who has penned ODM failures in many parts of Luo-Nyanza, or Denise Kodhe whose piece is also among the comments in this thread? Ruth Odinga has come out strongly criticizing the ODM leadership for recycling “Wazee” and rejecting women and the youth during the sham primaries. Tell her it is fitina too. Wake up wewe! By the way, what kind of human rights are you defending since you come out so biased? It’s a wrong handle for you.
Shadrack Senoru, which GEMA evil am I supporting? You seem excited about throwing a few words at KSB instead of challenging the content of my article. Grow up!
Picketting or Burning Tyres…
Party supporters have every right to protest the nominations irregularities, but ODM supporters are scaring other Kenyans and sending depressingly shameful images to the world that has been hopeful that we have changed our ways.
Mama IDA ODINGA permanently deletes her twitter account after SIAYA FIASCO
Saturday January 19, 2013 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Wife Mama Ida Odinga has indefinitely closed her twitter account citing hostilities from Kenyans on Twitter (KOT).
According to sources close to the Premier’s wife, Mama Ida was unable to bear with insults posted on her twitter account, forcing her to close it indefinitely.
Kenyans on Twitter on Friday evening ranted on the poor PM’s wife, accusing her and her husband of interfering in Kisumu, Siaya and HomaBay counties’ Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominations.
The social media went frenzy on Friday evening after Dr Oburu was announced the ODM Siaya County Governor despite losing to William Oduol.
ODM National Elections Board chairman Franklin Bett immediately reversed Oburu’s nomination and on Saturday afternoon announced that William Oduol is the Kisumu County ODM gubernatorial aspirant.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
Jaduong Odera,
There are times you need not to downgrade ,if it was me l would not even bother.However ,such is the space that has been availed .All sundry and dimwits ,are allowed by the freedoms we create to vent nonsensical beliefs and biases.So Jaduong rest easy ,The ones who thought they were in the know will soon find that education is not just about reading books ,it is about translating knowledge to suit the moment.For to fight the unknown renders one without any defense .
Giving space to odiangabuks makes us be compared.
Sorry the correct name is Odero,Jaduong Odero
What rights do you have to challenge Kikuyu thieving class ?
Tony Odera: Well stated. Sometimes we need to put certain people where they belong because while the freedom of expression is offered here by Ndugu Osewe, such louts dwell on personality. Even Jesus had to whip sense into those transgressors who misused God’s temple. Osewe offers this platform so that we can share knowledge and other societal matters, to broaden our perspectives.
I have questioned the motive behind criticizing the author of a topic without any basis and veering off a stated agenda by indulging unnecessary name calling.
Thanks Tony and take care.
The worst case scenario Israeli Mossad failed Miserably in their asassination Mission in Jordan-City> Enjoy the shitmen>
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2013/01/201312210472621589.html
The burden of being an Odinga
By Oscar Obonyo
KENYA: Out of the drama generated by perhaps the country’s most controversial party nominations, few events came close to the riveting gubernatorial contests involving Oburu Oginga in Siaya and Ruth Odinga in Kisumu counties.
It appeared everyone had an opinion about whether these siblings of Raila Odinga, the CORD presidential candidate, should get the tickets.
Not for the first time in Kenyan politics, the name Odinga was again dominating the political airwaves.
What followed, however, was new in every way. The sight of agitated voters chanting anti-Raila slogans amid claims of poll rigging in the Orange party primaries in Nyanza was a rare sight. So, too, was that of protestors threatening to decamp to rival Uhuru Kenyatta’s coalition.
Speaking at length about these events for the first time, members of the Odinga family have spoken about how stunned they were by the public reaction, especially in their home region of Nyanza.
“I am unable to comprehend our people’s rage,” said Ruth in an interview this weekend. “I chose not to “to ride on my brother’s fame by asking for a nomination slot. Instead I chose to fight it out on the ballot, giving residents of Kisumu chance to elect or reject me,” Ruth told The Standard On Sunday. Even more stunned was Oburu, the Finance Assistant minister, who was subjected to hostility by voters apprehensive that he would be favoured at the ballot because of his filial connection to party leader and presidential candidate of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy.
Indeed, some voters in the rural backyard of Raila did not even want to see the names of the PM’s kin on the ballot. It was annoying enough they had offered themselves for possible election.
Regarding the controversial Siaya polls, Oburu maintained he won against challenger, William Oduol: “But I must admit he is smart.
Knowing too well how polarised the ground was, he wrong footed me by declaring himself winner. That was poisonous enough and it did not what any other poll official was going to announce.”
Like the sister, Oburu is totally at a loss with regard to the hostility directed at him. Saying he has previously fought it out and been elected as MP, Oburu is irked by suggestions that he was riding on Raila’s back.
“Biologically I am Raila’s elder brother, and even in the understanding of African culture, it is not anything I would be willing do, including ruining my brother’s presidential campaign, as suggested by some,” he stressed.
To Oburu and Ruth, the violent protests rekindled sad memories of yesteryears when they suffered similar mistreatment and discrimination first at the hands of the British colonial government and later the Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi regimes, believably for being the Odingas. Hounded by the colonial Government, pursued and jailed by the successive Kenyatta and Moi governments and now being targeted by their own, the changing fortunes of the Odingas have remained true to the original script.
Their father, Kenya’s first Vice- President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, enjoyed a fanatical in his home base. In spite of putting his life and career on the line through political agitation, including declining appointment as Prime Minister by colonial Government, his reward was persecution. His more politically active second born son, Raila, has over the years emerged to become a top presidential contender. He is not there, just yet, and his supporters maintain his victory was stolen in 2007.
Sent to jail
Although a lot has been told of Raila, including his struggle for political freedoms, that got him jailed for a decade, little is known about his siblings. Owing to his father’s political activities, the Odinga children each paid a price.
Oburu, for instance, scored straight “A” grades in national primary examinations of 1960, but was denied admission at the prestigious Alliance High School because, “like his father, he would poison the student body”
These sentiments were made by colonial schoolmaster Carry Francis, a former principal of Maseno School and mentor of Jaramogi. The youthful Jaramogi was a favourite of Francis as a student at Maseno, because of his academic brilliance.
However, Francis was disturbed by the student’s agitation for rights and advised him against joining politics, which he regarded as a wasteful dirty game. Jaramogi initially heeded the advice, proceeding to Alliance High School and later to Makerere University in Uganda graduating with a diploma in Education.
Curiously, he was posted to his former Maseno School where he reunited with Francis. But soon, Jaramogi found the political bug irresistible and opted out of the noble profession. His mentor was furious.
This signalled the beginning of the painful struggles of the Odinga children. Oburu was the first casualty after passing the Kenya Preliminary Examination, the equivalent of today’s Class Eight. But he failed to secure admission in his dream school, even as two former classmates whom he had outperformed were admitted to Alliance.
Political agitator
Reading politics in the exercise, Jaramogi, then a leading political agitator, stormed the school with his son and demanded to know the fate of Oburu. As fate would have it, Francis was the new principal here having been transferred from Maseno.
Mentor turned enemy conceded to having declined to admit the politician’s son for fear that he would poison the minds of other students. Worse still, Francis had communicated the same to British principals of leading schools, dissuading them against touching the Odinga son.
“I remember my father banging the table in Francis’s office and telling him that although he had a problem with him, the same anger should not be transferred to an innocent child. But the principal would hear none of it and my father stormed out of the office, vowing to teach the British a lesson,” recalls Oburu.
Oburu was compelled to join a local school in the neighbourhood, Maranda High School, which had just been established. Dejected, he soon abandoned school.
Jaramogi quickly organised an overseas solution. Oburu’s passport application was however rejected. On inquiry, then Governor, Sir Everlyn Baring, told Jaramogi the decision was made on security grounds.
A furious Jaramogi was so determined to ensure that Oburu got an education that he swore to Governor Baring that his son would travel out of the country no matter what.
Barring reportedly laughed sarcastically at the remark.
The two were set to attend the third phase of the famed constitutional and pre-independence Lancaster House talks in 1962 but Jaramogi set off the journey earlier than the rest of the Kenyan delegation, since he was attending a Panafrican Freedom Movement for Eastern and Southern Africa in Addis Ababa.
Jaramogi arrived at the airport late just when the plane was about to take off. Amid the excitement and confusion, Oburu was handed a Ghanaian passport and quickly boarded the Ethiopian Airlines flight as a member of his father’s entourage.
Oburu was to learn that the arrangement was courtesy of his father’s friend, Ghanaian President Kwame Nkurumah. But Oburu’s celebration was short lived. Two days later, colonial authority discovered he had escaped from Kenya. The Governor immediately put a call through to Ethiopian emperor Haile Sellasie, asking him to arrest the 18-year-old boy and deport him back to Kenya.
Oburu was arrested in an ugly episode that unfolded right before his father and other African leaders in Ethiopia. Jaramogi protested demanding to talk to the monarch who backed down and the Odingas proceeded to London.
Here, the young Odinga spent lonely moments in his father’s hotel room as business went on at Lancaster House. Oburu proceeded to Russia for secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate university studies.
Back home, the rest of the family enjoyed the sweet fruits of liberation, power and attention, following Jaramogi’s appointment as Kenya’s first VP. But the joy only lasted three years as Jaramogi differed with his boss, Kenyatta. By 1969, and only aged five years, Ruth, was already playing the role of aide cum messenger of his father, now a Kenya People’s Union (KPU) party leader.
“I remember carrying Mzee’s microphone to a rally in Ugunja as he popularised his new party. Even during the infamous Kisumu massacre during the opening of Russia Hospital by President Kenyatta, I was there with my father, and witnessed very terrifying scenes,” recalls Ruth.
Frozen accounts
The worst was to follow when his father was detained. Jaramogi’s bank accounts were frozen and his businesses shut. The Odingas were accordingly pushed out of school.
“I remember climbing a mango tree to pluck and sell the fruit in Milimani area to raise some money for fees. Later, when I excitedly announced my achievement to mum, she sadly remarked (the amount) was barely enough,” says Ruth. Oburu and Raila returned from overseas to find their father in detention: “We left him struggling and on return, he was in detention. Raila and I never enjoyed our father’s vice-presidency,” says Jaramogi’s eldest son. The Odinga sons could not secure employment as there were rumours they had undertaken military and communist studies in Russia. And despite being among the few holders of a PhD in the 1970s, Oburu was couldn’t get a good job in Government, largely because he was an Odinga. He ended up serving as councillor in Kisumu between 1974 and 1979.
Much later, former Finance minister, Francis Masakhalia, assisted him to secure employment as senior planning officer. Then Masakhalia was serving as Permanent Secretary in the ministry. The system was harsher on Oburu as compared to his younger brother Raila, because he was the elder son and intelligence agents believed he was the one being prepared to join his father in politics. Nobody gave Raila much thought because he was considered a harmless “technical person” having studied engineering and that is how he even got a job at University of Nairobi as lecturer and later as director at Kenya Bureau of Standards. Focus was more on the “dangerous” Oburu, the social scientist and economist.
A few years down the line, Raila would become the establishment’s biggest headache, leading to his arrest and dismissal from KBS. Family instability quickly spread to Raila’s homestead as his wife, Ida would also later be hounded out of her teaching job at Kenya High School.
Before Ida’s predicament, Ruth became instrumental in delivering his father’s political messages. It was a dangerous undertaking, which she carried out with the connivance of police officers guarding Jaramogi, who had been placed under house arrest. Another sister, Berryl, was equally preoccupied with assignments that were political in nature. In the heat of the moment, she had to abandon school and flee out of the country. Under instructions from Jaramogi, she left one morning as if to purchase something at a kiosk, but ended up in Zimbabwe with help from the father’s friends.
While in detention, Jaramogi’s business ventures and an effort to inject money into the business through a bank loan proved disastrous. Midway, through what the Odingas claim was politically sanctioned, the loan was recalled and the Odinga property attached, including the fleet of Lolwe buses, business premises, households and family cars.
Chained in all corners and denied of employment opportunities, the only avenue for the Odingas was to fight the system for political space. That is how the Odingas, more than most families, found politics to be their natural habitat.
Women aspirants fall victim of party chaos
Helplessness. Betrayal. Shattered dreams. Perhaps this is how best to describe the ordeals suffered by a cross-section of women who tried their hand in politics this year.
Several of them emerged out of party primaries with bruises inflicted by a blatant violation of the Political Parties Act, outright intimidation and corruption within parties.
Some of those who won lost their tickets to male rivals, others were physically abused and in Embakasi an aspirant was raped.
In other areas, gender discrimination perpetuated by cultural beliefs reared its ugly head, with elders declaring a win by a woman in the TNA primaries in Kajiado as “a curse to the community”.
Accounts pieced together by the Sunday Nation in the post-nomination period paint a gloomy picture of the possibility of having less than 16 elected women MPs in the next Parliament. The 10th Parliament had 16 elected MPs and six were nominated.
At the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tribunal sitting at the Milimani Commercial Courts since Wednesday, women politicians spent long hours sitting and waiting to be heard.
The tribunal had more than 250 petitions to hear and, on Friday, it sat until late into the night. Still, justice was not dispensed to some of the affected women.
The unorthodox tactics deployed by the male rivals against women aspirants were baffling.
In central Kenya, the name of a TNA aspirant for Kandara constituency, Alice Muthoni Wahome, was printed on condom packs and distributed at local trading centres a few days to the nominations.
The condoms had this message: “A gift from Alice Muthoni Wahome. Kandara tupange uzazi (Kandara, let us do family planning). It was reported to police that 50 cartons of the branded condoms had been printed for the smear campaign that was largely blamed on her main male rival.
Outgoing Kandara MP Maina Kamau came out fighting and rubbished claims that he was a suspect in the saga. “She just wants to seek sympathy votes by distributing those things. I cannot do such a thing,” said Mr Kamau.
Ms Wahome’s rivals were not through. Besides the condoms, there were also printed materials to the effect that she was an alien in Kandara and that she was married in Nyeri County.
Voters were told that Ms Wahome was gunning for a parliamentary seat in Kandara while her husband was running for governor in Nyeri. Ms Wahome denied this, saying her husband was a gynaecologist and was not seeking any seat.
Although the incident tortured her mentally and briefly interrupted her campaigns, Ms Wahome went ahead to garner 27,602 votes against Mr Kamau’s 10,845 votes.
In Nakuru, Keziah Ngina was forced to stay in a hotel after threats on her life. The TNA Nakuru Town West aspirant was trailed on several occasions and was forced to leave her home. In one incident, she stared death in the face after a gang of armed youths confronted her in Kaptembwa.
By the time the primaries were done on January 18, she had been pushed to quit the race after her rivals warned her against interfering with the seat. She was facing off with 13 male aspirants.
Still in Nakuru, women voters were not spared. A case has been filed against outgoing Molo MP Joseph Kiuna who allegedly slapped a woman.
According to a report made at Mau Narok police station and at the Federation of Women Lawyers, Mary Wanjiku Njenga, a voter, was assaulted in public by Mr Kiuna.
In Embakasi, a woman aspirant was raped by unknown people. Although the Sunday Nation could not trace her to her seclusion, the case startled a meeting called at Serena Hotel by Eminent Persons, a lobby for peaceful elections.
The lobby’s chairperson Phoebe Asiyo termed the developments saddening and asked the electoral commission to offer women enough protection.
Still in Embakasi, a female aspirant was attacked last Thursday night by unknown people and warned against indulging in politics.
Culture was at its worst in Kajiado County. A win by Peris Tobiko in Kajiado East was declared a curse for the Maasai community. Elders said it was untenable to have a woman MP, a move that engineered the departure of her opponents to support a candidate in a rival party.
After beating her opponent, Julius Ntayia, Maasai elders who met at Sultan Hamud took issue with the “victory of a woman married in another district”. They warned they will curse whoever supports her.
The tough talk by the Maasai elders put Ms Tobiko’s bid on a swing even after her case landed at the IEBC tribunal on Friday. If she wins, she will become the first Maasai woman MP since independence.
Almost a similar fate befell Millicent Omanga who was robbed of the Nairobi gubernatorial running mate position in the Jubilee alliance after her community’s elders allegedly preferred a male candidate.
Ms Omanga, who had rolled out a bid for the senate race, was proposed to be a running mate to The National Alliance (TNA) candidate Ferdinand Waititu by her party, URP, a partner in the coalition.
However, she was dropped in favour of Mr Robin Achoki in what was described as a decision by Kisii elders.
Yesterday, Ms Omanga was a distraught woman. “I respect our elders but their discrimination against me on gender and age is an abuse of my human rights,” she said.
She added that they should have rejoiced that “one of their daughters had reached a level where she could be proposed to be deputy governor of a city like Nairobi by a serious party”. The confusion, Ms Omanga said, had affected her motivation and she had retreated privately to “agonise over the turn of events”.
Physical abuse apart, several women have suffered psychologically after being denied tickets, on top of undergoing huge financial losses.
In Embakasi East, TNA aspirant Mary Mwangi found too late that it was her rival’s name that was forwarded to the IEBC even after beating her opponent by close to 1,500 votes.
Returns of the nominations show Mrs Mwangi, normally known as Mama Double M, garnered more than 2,900 votes against her rival Amos Masenge’s 1,400 votes.
Mrs Mwangi, a widow, filed a petition with the IEBC tribunal and she is one of the women who have camped at the tribunal for the last three days waiting for justice. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had controversial scenarios involving two of their former MPs in Nairobi.
It discarded former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro out of contention for the senate seat and handed the ticket to outgoing Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru after the Orange party barred her from running for governorship on academic grounds.
Mrs Ongoro, who had already hit the campaign trail, was instructed to vie for the Ruaraka parliamentary seat whose ticket had been won by lawyer Tom Kajwang. She declined the offer.
A peep into some cases at the tribunal demonstrated a calculated move to lock some women out of contention. In Kiambu, for example, a TNA aspirant for the women’s representative seat Lillian Mwaura had her name and picture missing in the ballot, even after fulfilling all the party’s obligations.
“I paid Sh75,000 to the party. Everything was intact until the last day. Someone interfered with my name somewhere between the secretariat and the printer,” the lawyer said on Friday.
A mix-up of the names could have caused huge vote losses to Wanjiku Mwangi who was running for Nairobi’s women’s representative seat. The ballot read Rose Anne Mwangi, a name she had never used in her campaigns.
Few women have the machinery and will power to put up a spirited fight such as businesswoman Mary Wambui whose ticket for the Othaya parliamentary seat had been snatched by her bitter rival Gichuki Mugambi.
The circus, which was said to have been engineered by powerful forces in government, was seen as an attempt to hand certificates to preferred candidates at the expense of women aspirants.
The nominations fiasco has rattled women’s organisations in the country who have expressed outrage at the lack of respect for women aspirants.
The Centre for Multi-Party Democracy executive director Njeri Kabeberi says the parties were on “a robbery spree” against women.
“At least 15 of the 36 or so women nominated for governor, senator or MP have been robbed of their certificates or do not appear anywhere in the parties’ lists or the IEBC lists,” she said on Saturday.
Ms Kabeberi said the Political Parties Act and the Elections Act have codes of conduct that regulate political party behaviour and special clauses on gender including non-violence against women which were not implemented.
UN Women, an international organisation that has been supporting women aspirants, said Kenyans expected disciplinary action against all those who violated women’s right to vie for political seats.
According to the organisation’s head, Ms Zebib Kavuma, the IEBC, the Registrar of Political Parties and police must take action against rogue aspirants and rogue parties.
Fida Kenya has protested at the humiliation meted out on women.
Additional reporting by Simon Siele, Ponciano Odongo and Samuel Karanja
Kivua Mbele Matako Nyuma Lets worship Kibaki>
Siblings’ ambition imperils Raila’s State House bid
Philip Ochieng
Like all liberal constitutions, Kenya’s guarantees the right to participate in all electoral processes. There is no bar apart from age and certain conditions to do with crime. Moreover, “participatory democracy” is not just the vote. It also means freedom to stand for office.
In other words, no person can be barred from seeking office merely because he or she is related to a high-powered national statesman. To disqualify the children of Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Moses Mudavadi — suchlike — on that account is to violate the constitutional rights of those individuals.
Thus, notwithstanding Raila Odinga’s imperious national presence, Ruth Odinga and Oburu Oginga have the right to hold elective offices at all levels of the Republic. In the “game of politics”, the only bar I am aware of that can override this law may be subsumed by the category of tactics and self-respect.
I give the example of the Odingas because that name has dominated political choice among my Luo people for many generations. I would have liked Peter Kenneth or James ole Kiyiapi as our next president. But I must add — even at the risk of being branded a tribalist — that, of the other candidates, Mr Odinga is my preference.
However, precisely because of it, I feel duty-bound to make the tactical point that it would terribly harm Mr Odinga’s cause if so many siblings stood for important offices because — in a generation of heightened social consciousness — the Luo youth may interpret it as an attempt by Mr Odinga to intensify the Odinga family’s traditional hold on that community.
In other words, vaulting sibling ambitions could boomerang on the ODM’s presidential candidate. That is where self-respect comes in. Had Miss Odinga and the Assistant Finance Minister drummed up a sense of proportion (and expressed it humbly), they would not have jeopardised their own brother’s bid. They would have held on to their gubernatorial ambitions till a time suitable to him.
Why? Because — away from Nyanza — the name “Odinga” is synonymous with the name “Luo” and thus inspires profound fear. If the two Odingas were aware of the violent ripples that the name “Luo” occasions in the national pond of politics, they would know that, by seeking offices as high as the governor’s, they are greatly imperilling their own brother’s chances of entering State House.
Misguided enthusiasm
Secondly, were you, the reader, caressed by the arrogance, high-handedness and misguided enthusiasm with which party officials handled Oburu Oginga’s case? Did the grating contradictions between ODM secretary-general Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o and electoral chief Franklin Bett endear you to the party and its candidate?
The outrage heard from all parts of “Luo Nyanza” about the botching up of the party’s nomination process was not admirable, to say the least. It was verily reminiscent of the tragi-comedy characteristic of the hand-picking by Moi’s officials during Kanu’s autocracy. Many supporters of Raila Odinga feel betrayed, alienated and disenchanted.
But the Luo were not the only culprits. Despite attempts by certain media houses to depict the ODM and Luo Nyanza as the nigger-in-the-woodpile, the situation was not a lot better among the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin. Throughout Central Province and the Rift Valley, there was an equally hideous outcry about rigging.
After so many decades of childish politics — even after the mayhem of January, 2008 — our party leaders have not learned even a single lesson from the catastrophes that can engulf a nation whenever some of its officials try to make unfair gains by tampering with the agreed democratic method of latching onto leaders.
That is why I agree with the suggestion that, until we learn that lesson, we should put all electoral processes — including those of political parties — in the hands of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and transform it into a national political education college.
Oburu: Raila advisers forced me out of race
By JUSTUS WANGA
Posted Sunday, January 27 2013 at 00:30
Two members of the Odinga family who were controversially forced to drop their bids for the seat of governor during the party nominations last week have broken their silence on a matter that sensationally put them in the spotlight for days.
Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga and his sister, Ms Ruth Adhiambo Odinga, who had sought the ODM ticket to vie for the positions of governor in Siaya and Kisumu counties respectively, say they were victimised because of their family name.
The two have also dismissed the perception that the demonstrations held in some parts of Nyanza over the bungled ODM party nominations amounted to a rebellion against the Odinga family.
Dr Oburu blamed his predicament on the Cord alliance presidential advisers who he said believed that his ambition would jeopardise Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chances of winning the presidential election.
Big issue
“I had to give in to pressure from them. Personally I – and let me say even Raila – did not believe that my ticket would jeopardise his chances of becoming the president. But these people who call themselves advisers or think-tank kept hammering this on him each morning he got to the office. They created a big issue out of it,” said Dr Oburu, who is the PM’s elder brother.
Dr Oburu was denied the ODM certificate by the party’s elections board after his opponent, Mr William Oduol, contested the results announced by the returning officer.
Ruth Odinga, on her part, blames her opponents whom she accused of using the Odinga tag to lock her out of the race.
“They paid some youths to create an impression that residents of Kisumu could not live with the prospects of me becoming their governor. It is sad they succeeded in this mischievous undertaking,” she said.
She further said that because the Odinga family fought and suffered for the country during the clamour for reforms, it is only fair that they also enjoy the liberty of running for elective seats of their choice.
“We should be allowed to run for any seat like other Kenyans because whether we get elected or not is the discretion of the electorate who I’m sure recognise what we have sacrificed for them,” she said.
“I was vying as Ruth Adhiambo and not as sister to Raila and it is also important to note that I trounced my opponents in the race but I had to consider the bigger picture, peace and sanity in Kisumu, that was getting worse due to isolated cases of incitement.”
Dr Oburu feels that he has been victimised for being the brother of a presidential candidate. He dismissed the claims that a rebellion was brewing against their family, especially if he insisted on getting the party’s greenlight to run for governor.
“Rebellion is a very remote idea. Those who were against my ambition to run for governor were not even Siaya people. If anything, my people had nominated me to be their governor by double the number of votes my challenger was able to garner,” he said.
He said the people of Bondo have nothing against the Odingas.
“They supported me when I was their MP for almost two decades. In fact they feel betrayed that I had to drop my bid,” he said.
Critics and some observers say the Odingas may have borne the brunt of those who rightly or wrongly felt that the family was trying to create a kingdom-like structure to occupy as many elective seats in the region as possible and so they had to be stopped.
A debate has now emerged on whether the manner in which the contested victories of Dr Oburu and his sister were handled by the ODM elections board was actually meant to forestall a likely rebellion against the Odinga family in Luo Nyanza.
Prof Egara Kabaji, a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University, argues that the decision not to award Mr Oduol the certificate to run for governor was informed by a conviction that it would have given him a licence to boast that he had beaten the mighty.
“Giving him the ticket would have led to chest-thumping – that ‘see I have removed the jinx of the Odinga factor in our politics’, and so the panel saw an easier way out of the impasse in settling on a neutral candidate,” Prof Kabaji told the Sunday Nation.
He added that removing the names of the Odinga siblings from the ballot was meant to save the face of their family and eventually the Prime Minister from imminent dissent.
“Much as this is their democratic right, something I totally agree with, common sense should have told them that it was going to be ugly,” he said.
Family grip
Mr Oduol, on his part, says it is in the minds of many of his supporters that the fear of the elections board was that had he been issued with the certificate, he would upset the Odinga family grip on Siaya politics.
“That is their opinion but I’m not fighting the Odinga family, in fact Raila remains my presidential candidate of choice,” he said.
There had been rumours that at least six members of the Odinga family were positioning themselves for several elective seats across the country.
At some point, Jaoko Oburu, who is Dr Oburu’s son and one of the founders of the Friends of Raila lobby, was said to have been eyeing the Bondo parliamentary seat that his father left to run for governor. But Dr Oburu later said the rumours were spread by “haters” out to cast the family in bad light.
“Such talks are being peddled for political expediency and should be ignored in totality,” he said, adding that none of his cousins was running for any elective position.
The Prime Minister’s step-brother, Mr Omondi Odinga, is reluctant to call it anti-Odinga rebellion but he says the riots that followed the announcement of Adhiambo and Oburu as ODM candidates for governor were seen as an attempt by the Odinga family to impose candidates on the electorate.
“I think they are just fed up with leaders being forced on them come every election. They have woken up and are ready to shrug off any form of intimidation from these usual suspects,” he said in reference to his family.
He claimed that the outcome of ODM primaries in Luo Nyanza is usually pre-determined long before they are conducted.
“I think they should have the courtesy to inform the innocent contenders that the party has its owners so they do not waste their money, time and energy campaigning for what will not come to pass,” Mr Odinga said.
Prof Peter Simatei, a lecturer at Moi University, says Ms Odinga’s right to vie for political office seems to have been undermined by a flawed nomination process and a perception that the Odingas have an unbridled hold on the local politics.
“Ruth could simply have been a victim of a mistaken belief that the Odingas had collectively agreed to sponsor her candidature but, again, who knows, perhaps a transparent, independent, peaceful and well organised nomination process would have seen her clinch the Cord ticket,” he said.
Former joint chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo is the only relative of the Odingas left standing after the bruising January 17 and 18 nominations.
But he has expressed fear that now that their detractors are done with Ms Odinga and her brother, he could be the next target.
“After concerted hate campaigns by forces in the government edged both Ms Odinga and Dr Oginga out of the race, I know they may want to target me for being a cousin of the Odingas. This is despite the fact that I won fair and square,” Mr Midiwo said.
“The motive was to create an impression that Raila is facing resentment in his own backyard, which is not anywhere near the truth. It is an isolationist tactic that will not work.”
On blogs and other social media forums where the Ogingas came under scathing attacks from residents and people who felt they were becoming too possessive of the regional politics, Mr Midiwo alleged the National Security Intelligence Service could have played a part.
“The NSIS had a strong hand in the social media hits,” he said, adding that it was a strategy to check Mr Odinga’s popularity ahead of the election.
But Elisha Odhiambo, who was vying for the ODM ticket to run for the Gem parliamentary seat, has accused Mr Midiwo of instigating the violence that hit the area in the primaries.
“He planned all this chaos and should stop pointing fingers elsewhere,” Mr Odhiambo said. Mr Midiwo has denied the claims.
People who wish away anti-Raila wave in Luoland are from Mars
By OTIENO OTIENO
Posted Saturday, January 26 2013
I got email from readers reacting to my column last week in which I sought to explain why Luoland rose against the Odingas in the recent ODM nominations. I wish to respond to some of the comments:
Members of the Odinga family have the constitutional right to contest for any seat.
Indeed Article 38 (c) of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right “to be a candidate for public office, or office within a political party of which the citizen is a member and, if elected, to hold office”.
What it doesn’t do is entrench hegemonies that subvert the people’s will at elections and nepotism in public life.
The ODM nominations fiasco in Kisumu and Siaya had familial fingerprints all over it. Remember one braggart MP publicly advising other aspirants for governor in Siaya to get used to the idea that his cousin was the party’s choice for the post or take a walk before the nominations?
The anti-Odinga sentiments expressed by protesters in some parts of Luo Nyanza do not reflect a fundamental change in regard to [the popularity of] Raila in the region and may have been made in jest in the heat of the moment.
This is outright condescending to the good citizens who got out to voice out opposition to the monkey business. How else were they supposed to express their anger so as not to be seen to be joking? Self-immolate?
Considering the fact that the PM has enjoyed something akin to a cult following in this region for about 20 years, only a Martian can possibly watch angry youth in Kisumu, Siaya and Karachuonyo blocking roads, caressing rocks, burning tyres and chanting anti-Raila slogans and still see no fundamental change.
Mr Ahmednasir Abdullahi, the senior counsel and Sunday Nation columnist, appearing on KTN’s election show, Livewire on Thursday night argued that the events in Nyanza were positive for democracy.
“You need to divide the country into regions to analyse the politics. In certain regions, the leaders are bigger than the people. In other regions the people are bigger than the leaders… I think Nyanza is peculiar. It is only in Nyanza where the people’s will is overruled [by the leaders],” said Mr Abdullahi.
Mr Ababu Namwamba, the Youth and Sports minister and one of the emerging progressive voices in ODM, weighed in: “Siaya, Kisumu and Othaya; it is really a demonstration of something new in our political culture; that the people can come out and stand up to the sentiments of the party leadership.”
The ODM nominations were infiltrated by the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) to stoke sentiments against the Odinga family and derail the PM’s presidential bid.
The Kenyan intelligence community is better known for its role in the suppression of freedom movements. If it’s true the NSIS had a hand in the rebellion in Nyanza, then Kenyans owe it loads of gratitude.
tHE bEST LEADERS IN kENYA mUST COME FROM kIKUYU TRIBE!- True -False.
cooks must come from Luhya tribes!- true ,false
Scavangers must come from Kerenyaga ,Embu-true ,false
Shambaboys must come from Kisiis-true false
Office messangers must come from Ja-Luos.-true ,false
Watchmen must come from Mkambas(musyoka Kalonzos tribe)-true ,false
Farm Laborous must come from walahoi-Poloi kikuyus.-true, false
Ranch mzungu cow milkers must come from Masai/Lumbwa (Moi/Ruto tribes)-true ,false
Bwana mkubwa (Mzungus wife dresser must come from Mhindi Collie formerly Railway worker)-true false
Police (tribal Police) must come from KikuyuRoyalist(indoctrinized) (brainwashed)and from Mkamba drawn from hunger oriented semi-arid Ukambani -Region.-true false
A working system was indoctrinated in Wa-kambas mind such as everything in the (HMS) The Kings African Rifles was free of charge ie: From the Rifle bullets Uniform and Putees ,boots food accommondation was free,
Arresting a Kikuyu with bank notes was treason sentenced by hanging.-true ,false
Raping was punished by Castrating!-true ,false
Wa-tu wa Pwani were used to dry Bwana Mzungu /Mkerwe from attending toilet.-true false
To get the true answes go and ask your Grand-Pa or Grand-Mo- (or) a true and genuine Kenya Historian.
ODM is determined to reward loyalty, come what may. Dr. Oburu Oginga has been listed as a nominee for the National Assembly, yet this category is a preserve of women, youths and people with disabilities. It is not a shock because I had foreseen it as part of the three ‘isms’.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/3W18NHVmNBE?autoplay=1&rel=0