Plans on course for new Nyanza party

By Protus Onyango

Political players in former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s rural backyard of Nyanza region are finally ready to unveil a new political outfit to check the dominance of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

The Standard on Sunday has authoritatively established that a team headed by former Kasipul Kabondo MP Odoyo Owidi has been tasked with  overseeing  the new party’s registration. 

The development comes a month after Rongo MP and former Cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno revealed that he would spearhead the formation of a new party to rival Raila’s ODM. Like most legislators from the region, Mr Otieno was elected on an ODM party ticket. 

“The new party is coming and the whirlwind that is being speculated is just its baptismal name,” Otieno said last month while addressing his constituents at the new Chamgigwadu divisional headquarters in Rongo sub-county of Migori County.

The name Kalausi, which in Luo means a whirlwind, has since been on the lips of the proponents of this move. However, neither Otieno nor Owidi was able to confirm to The Standard on Sunday as to whether this was the chosen name of the new political outfit.

However, Owidi discloses that the party is backed by some “big names” in Luo Nyanza politics, including former and current political leaders. Current MPs said to be backing the formation of a new party are those christened the ‘Young Turks’ who have been opposed to the way ODM’s old guards manage party affairs.

“We are ready to register our new party but we will do it at an opportune moment. Our focus now is to sensitise the Luo nation that we need change to liberate us. The public needs to see us together,” Owidi says.

Even though Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero has not voiced his support for this party some observers are associating him with Kalausi because of the criticism he has received from ODM insiders who say he is cozying himself to the Jubilee administration because he wants carve his own political niche away from Raila’s influence.

They draw their conclusions from Dr Kidero’s political activities outside his Nairobi political base.

Kidero has lately been politically active in Nyanza, including presiding over funds drives. He recently asked the people of Migori County and Nyando constituency to back non-ODM candidates, PDP’s Okoth Obado and Ford-Kenya’s Jared Okello, respectively in next month’s anticipated by-elections.

Kidero says he is out to change ODM from within but those who are close to him are free to pursue their desire of registering a new party. “I want to change ODM from within but there are forces within the party who are not ready for change. They are threatening me with expulsion. If they expel me, I am free to seek for another party,” he said.

When the Nairobi Governor recently presided over a fundraiser in Kisumu in aid of jua kali artisans, he held a meeting with some former MPs at his home in Milimani estate, Kisumu.

“We discussed many issues and in attendance were former MPs Ken Nyagudi, Eric Nyamunga, Pollins Ochieng, George Weya and Martins Ogindo,” a source who attended the meeting said.

Hillary Alila, who contested the Homa Bay senator’s seat on a People’s Democratic party (PDP) ticket after he lost the ODM nomination to Senator Otieno Kajwang, supports the idea of  a new party.

“Our region has been left in the hands of a few people who use Raila’s name to get power. We need a new party to give wananchi a choice,” Mr Alila said.

Region’s interests

  “The new party represents the interests of the whole of Nyanza and beyond. It should not be viewed as a party that belongs to South Nyanza because Otieno and Kidero are supporting it,” he added.

Tom Alila, the Nyanza National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) who is vying for the Mathare seat as an independent candidate, also wants Nyanza to have an ODM rival party.

“Human beings are democratic and they shouldn’t just be forced to like one idea. ODM nominations are a sham because party tickets are given to those who are not in good books with the electorate. I will back this idea of a new party,” Mr Alila, who vied for the September 17 Ndhiwa by-election on a The National Alliance (TNA) party, said.

However, Deputy Minority Leader in the National Assembly, Jakoyo Midiwo and Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura have warned that the move to have a new party in Nyanza was a threat to the unity of the Luo community.

The MPs vowed to fight any plot to split the region. Midiwo (Gem) said division in the community would seriously diminish Raila’s chances of clinching the presidency in the 2017 elections.

Referring to the discontent caused by the party national elections that had pitted Otieno against Raila, Midiwo said the party must now seek better ways of managing its polls.

 “As a party, we must now be ready and avoid going different ways every time we hold elections,”   Midiwo noted.

Obura said the community must work together to remain politically relevant in future elections: “As a party we can find solutions to any problem that divides us so that we move forward as one family.”

Growth agenda

He added: “For us to achieve our region’s development agenda we must remain united. But politicians around Raila who claim to be his close allies yet they do little to ensure he wins during elections must be warned.”

Last month, Dalmas said it was unfair for the Odinga family to brand him a Jubilee mole even after campaigning for Raila in the last General Election.

The MP said he played a crucial role in the formation of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) and bringing on board former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

He revealed that he was part of the group that ensured the Cord deal was signed at   Machakos Senator David Musila’s Karen home in Nairobi.

He added: “We need to tell Nyanza that we fought for multi-party politics fearlessly and the idea of single party dictatorship in Luo should stop. The Kikuyu presented four presidential candidates in the last General Election and they won. We are ready for a new party.”

Owidi clarified that there are very many people that have opposed Raila in the past and it is just a coincidence that most leaders who want a new party are from South Nyanza. “Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang Nyong’o, Siaya Senator James Orengo, former Rarieda MP Raphael Tuju and former Rangwe MP Dr Shem Ochuodho have all opposed Raila at one time or another, but some of them have returned to the fold. This party represents Kenya, not only South Nyanza,” Owidi said.

Recently, during a fundraiser in aid of Nyamagwa Boys High School in Kisii County, Charles Nyachae, the chair of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC),   backed the formation of a new party in Nyanza.

 Mr Nyachae, who is believed to be  readying himself to vie for the Kisii gubernatorial seat in 2017, supported Kidero who was the chief guest, urging him not to relent in his quest to economically empower the Nyanza region.

 “We are being told that ODM wants to expel you. But don’t lose hope. Consolidate the Kisii and South Nyanza vote before you go to the South Rift. When the time comes, we will give you a new party to vie on,” Nyachae said.