Senator Wilfred Machage wants Raila Odinga to groom successor from Kuria

MIGORI: Senator Wilfred Machage has appealed to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga to consider grooming his successor from the Kuria community.

This appeal comes even as echoes of discontent emerge from a section of Migori leaders from other regions, accusing the Kuria of giving the former Prime Minister a raw deal in the last presidential election.

Mr Machage was speaking at a meeting in Kehancha which was attended by Raila Odinga.

"It is true that if all the votes in Kuria could have gone to the Cord basket we could have had a re-run in the last elections, therefore the Kuria community owes you a great deal. The next election will see all in Kuria take their votes to the ODM basket, after that we request that you look at Kuria when you shall retire from active politics," said Mr Machage.

He however cautioned against utterances that would cause chaos between the communities in Migori County that have lived for long in peace.

"Discontent may be expressed but kindly the leaders should not polarize the people who have married each other for many years and lived in peace, we are all important and we all form a family of Migori County, no one is inferior or superior to the other," he pointed out.

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His sentiments were echoed by the ODM national chairman John Mbadi who cautioned against looking down upon other communities within the county.

"God planned that communities live together in Kenya and more so in Migori, when leaders who are supposed to be uniting the people lead by sowing seeds of discord then it is unfortunate. We all pay taxes and those taxes should help all of us, not a section feeling sidelined," noted Mbadi.

Migori Women representative Dennitah Ghati however challenged the women from Kuria saying they should come out and take advantage of opportunities that are brought by devolution.

"In the eight sub-counties, women have got their share and should make good use of it well. It is absurd when a woman is still made to believe that her position is in the kitchen, until when?" posed Ms Ghati.

The county legislator however called for cohesion among the leaders, transparency and accountability in the tendering processes and procurement within the county government saying it was painting Migori in bad light.