Bickering among Nyanza MPs leaves Raila a lone ranger

By Anderson Ojwang

The battle for political supremacy among Luo Nyanza MPs has opened the province for other players.

Similarly, it has left Prime Minister Raila Odinga a lone ranger whenever he travels across the country.

Noticeably, most MPs from the region do not accompany him for such trips, as was the case in the Ninth Parliament.

Pundits say this could explain why Raila has come under constant criticism from Rift Valley MPs allied to Agriculture Minister William Ruto, with no serious counter response from Nyanza MPs.

Already, the declaration by Ruto that he will run for president is causing ripples among legislators and voters.

Political equation

Luo Nyanza has four Cabinet ministers — Anyang’ Nyong’o (Medical Services), James Orengo (Lands), Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) and Otieno Kajwan’g (Immigration).

Other leaders are Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Odinga and Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojodeh and ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo.

First timers but already creating ripples in the political equation in the region are Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West), Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike) and John Mbande (Gwasi).

Olago says back-stabbing and jealousy have become common among MPs.

"We fight for perceived supremacy and we are no longer capable of having a common voice on matters regional and national," he says.

Olago says such supremacy battles puts Raila in a difficult position because he is still expected to take care of the political affairs of Nyanza, something that could be handled by local MPs.

He says legislators have often had different opinion on various national matters and hardly meet to take a common stand.

"We have failed to bond and we have little time to compare notes or to campaign for Raila in other regions or accompany him to functions outside the province, and this is a bad show," he says.

The political fights have seen the death of duol, a council of MPs that is meant to set the agenda and advise Raila.

The council of MPs is also used as a bonding session for leaders and a forum to formulate development agenda for the community. Some MPs blame the current chairman John Pesa for failing to steer the council. But Pesa denies claims the council is moribund.

"The duol is active. We must have an agenda to meet. We are in a new political dispensation and do not want to be shouting for the sake of it," he says.

Kasipul-Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga says the council has been active and MPs have taken a common stand in Parliament on various occasions.

Think tank

"It is the first time we are in Government and we do not need to traverse the country shouting. We want to be accommodative and not confrontational," he says.

But he admits there has been a disconnect between the Prime Minister’s office and MPs.

Sources say some MPs want a new political think tank for the region and have proposed former Rangwe MP Philip Okundi to head it. When contacted by The Standard on Sunday about the proposal, Okundi declined to confirm or deny the new development.

"When I was chairman of the council, we discussed various issues and that is how Raila marshalled national support because of our commitment to change," he said.

Nyakach MP Polyns Ochieng’ denies the council of MPs is moribund. He says they only meet when there are serious matters that require a common stand. "We are no longer in the opposition to warrant such meetings," he adds.

But Anyanga says hard economic times could have driven some MPs to seek alliances with leaders who can support them financially.

Former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo concurs. "When we used to accompany Raila for campaigns across the country, we used our own resources which some MPs do not have and have opted to remain in their constituencies," he says.