The widening rift between ODM leader Raila Odinga and a section of Nyanza leaders became evident during the burial of Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno’s daughter in Migori County on Saturday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the function accompanied by several other leaders, mostly from other regions.
But ODM leaders including former prime minister Raila Odinga gave the event a wide berth.
Senior leaders from the region who attended the function included Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, his Migori counterpart Zachary Obado and former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju.
Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said the Rongo burial was a Jubilee affair, claiming members of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy(CORD) were not invited.
“I only knew about the death of Dalmas’s daughter on Thursday. The family only invited Jubilee leaders,” Gumbo told The Standard.
Jubilee moles
The legislator also said the current political differences between Jubilee and CORD coalitions over calls for a national dialogue made them to skip the event.
“The President has treated us with contempt and we did not see the need to follow him in Nyanza,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo said all CORD members had been advised against attending the event.
Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch said some CORD leaders decided to snub the event for fear of being branded Jubilee sympathisers.
“I believe local MPs did not attend because they were scared of being branded ‘Kalausi’ (Jubilee moles),” he stated.
Kalausi (whirlwind) is said to be the proposed name of the party the Rongo MP plans to form to rival ODM in Nyanza.
Olago said he skipped the event “due to unavoidable circumstances”.
“I sent my condolences to Dalmas and indicated to him the reasons I could I not attend,” he added.
Ugunja MP James Wandayi said they would continue skipping functions graced by the President until the latter yields to calls for national dialogue.
“We will snub the President’s events until he agrees to talk,” he said.
Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali, however, said Nyanza MPs should close ranks with the President as their Western counterparts have done.
“We in Western have begun working with the national government. Nyanza leaders should also follow suit,” he said.
Leaders from the area who attended the event included Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, MPs James Rege (Karachuonyo), Jared Kopiyo (Awendo) and former Cabinet minister Ochilo Ayacko.
Others were Migori Senator Wilfred Machage MP Mathias Robi (Kuria West). Otieno announced in March this year that he will form a political party to rival ODM in Nyanza, weeks after accusing Raila of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies.
