Kenya; CORD leader Raila Odinga’s endorsement of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ as the ODM branch chairman has sparked yet another political storm in Nyanza.

Raila last week broke his silence on the row that had hit the party leadership for four months to the chagrin of party delegates.

During the burial of former Karachuonyo MP Adhu Awiti in Homa Bay County last Saturday, the former premier declared Kajwang’ is still the party chairman in the region.

But Raila’s intervention has not helped. Delegates, who removed Kajwang’ from office and replaced him with former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, have termed his declaration move null and void. Ogindo and his deputy Ong’ondo Were have also declared they would not quit their positions until party elections are conducted.

“I am still the ODM chairman in Homa Bay and I want to announce to supporters that the status quo remains until the next election,” Ogindo says. Ong’ondo termed Raila’s move dictatorial, saying the former premier does not know why Kajwang’ and his team were ousted and did not care to find out.

“It demonstrates lack of respect for the ODM delegates who voted us into office. It is only them who can remove us and not Raila,” Ong’ondo said.

ODM supporters in Homa Bay County have been confused as Kajwang’ and Ogindo continue claiming chairmanship.

Ogindo and his team have been planning to host Raila to open the party’s new office in Homa Bay but the party leader shocked them last week when he maintained  Kajwang’ had not committed any sin to warrant his removal from office.

“I have kept quiet about this matter for long but I want to declare it today that Kajwang’ is still the ODM chairman in Homa Bay County. Let anybody who wants to become chairman wait until an election is called,” Raila said at the burial.

His comments were supported by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, who appealed to Karachuonyo MP James Rege who is also the branch secretary to avoid public confrontations with Kajwang’.

Line of roles

“I want to ask Rege to stick to his line of responsibility and let Kajwang’ execute his mandate as chairman,” said Nyong’o.

But speaking to The Standard on Sunday, Were who replaced Monica Amollo as the party vice chairperson, said Nyong’o has no mandate to issue direction on the matter.

“We are aware Nyong’o is no longer the party Secretary General because he had resigned and the position is held in an interim capacity. He should therefore keep off,” he cautioned.

 

Ogindo claims Kajwang’ was overwhelmed and has failed to effectively run the party offices, a situation which culminated in closure of the Orange party’s offices in Homa Bay County.

“We opened a new party office and paid its rent for two years because the former office was closed down,” he said.

He claims the Senator was replaced after he had shown interest in the post of vice chairman in the party’s national elections. Odoyo Owidi, a politician who once vied for the Kasipul Kabondo constituency seat, says the wind of change in Nyanza is unstoppable and Raila should listen to the voices of the people.

Defacto leader

He says gone are the days when the Luos were led by a defacto leader. He accuses Raila of keeping the community in political jail by always dictating to them who to elect.

“From the performance of Uhuru Kenyatta who was Kibaki’s rival in 2002, it is clear having many political parties and allowing communities elect people of their choice is a way of nurturing future leaders,” Owidi says.

He faults Raila’s insistence that only people loyal to ODM deserve party endorsement. The rivalry between the youthful ODM MPs from the region dubbed Young Turks and their older counterparts has also played out in the ODM leadership row in the region.

It is not surprising that youthful legislators from Nyanza have not thrown their weight behind Kajwang’. Most legislators have expressed their discomfort with Kajwang’ for calling them Jubilee moles.

“They brand us as Jubilee moles and demand we leave the party; where do they want us to go?” asked Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo.

But more telling is the fact that the new group that includes Ogindo (chairman) Ong’ondo (vice chairman) also has Rege (Secretary) Millie (Organising Secretary) and Kabondo Kasipul MP Silvance Osele as Assistant Treasurer. Suba MP John Mbadi is also a member of the executive committee. Ogindo says his team will not let Kajwang’ ruin the party.

“We want to re-energise our party and make it appealing to the electorate. Wananchi are happy with the new leadership and have promised to register as voters in big numbers for the 2017 General Election,” Mr Ogindo says.

Kioko Ireri, a researcher in political communication, says the ODM old guard should be worried by the take-over of the party by new faces

“Politics is about presence and being heard. This comes about when you are a party leader. If you lose this, it means you will not reach the masses and you will be dead politically,” Ireri, who is also an associate professor at USIU said.