I am ready for 2017, warrior Raila assures supporters after crowning

CORD leader Raila Odinga dressed in Luo traditional regalia at Got Ramogi in Siaya County on November 26,2016 during a ceremony where he was crowned by Luo council of elders as a brave worrier who would lead the community to enhance peace during the campaigns in the forthcoming elections. (Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard)

CORD leader Raila Odinga emerged from a Luo traditional shrine armed with cultural war regalia and declared that his quest to remove Jubilee Party from power was unstoppable.

Dressed in a cow skin, a traditional headgear and armed with a two-headed spear and shield, a confident Raila yesterday assured his supporters across the country that he will put up a strong fight against President Uhuru Kenyatta and deliver victory this time round.

Energised by the rare ceremony at the sacred Got Ramogi Hills in Bondo, just a few kilometers from his Opoda home, Raila declared he was ready to do battle for the Presidency.

“I want to assure opposition supporters and those who want a change of guard in this country that I am more than ready for this political battle,” said Raila, under the watchful eyes of the elders.

“I have received blessings and tools of war that will enable me face the battle with a lot of courage. I will not disappoint you,” he said of the two-headed spear, sharpened on two traditional stones.

Mumias woes

He also refuted claims that he is responsible for collapse of Mumias Sugar Company. Raila said Jubilee leaders calling for him to explain the whereabouts of the money are merely on a name-smearing campaign.

Speaking at Siungu beach in Bondo Sub-county during the closing of a three-day Ramogi Cultural Festival and Reunion, a few hours after he had been installed as a warrior at Got Ramogi, the CORD leader told the government to be responsible of their woes.

Jubilee leaders, especially some MPs from the Mumias sugar belt, have claimed Raila owes the mill Sh300 million. But the former Prime Minister maintained that he does not owe the company a single cent and challenged the government to table evidence.

He said he will not be cowed by the Jubilee’s propaganda to muzzle him over corruption claims in the government.

“Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto have realised that they have failed in addressing the issues affecting this country and they have instead turned to blaming others,” he said.

Raila, who is in discussion with his CORD co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) over who among them should fly the opposition ticket, said he now needs the support of all Kenyans “who have been demanding for a better country through the ballot.”

Said the former Prime Minister: “This is not a Luo battle and I am calling everyone to walk with me as we go into one of the major political battles.”

“Do not let me walk alone into enemy territory. You have picked me to lead you into this war and with your backing, I storm fearlessly into the enemy lines,” he said.

Raila said time was ripe for a regime change and asked Kenyans who had not registered as voters to do so as a matter of urgency.

“Without the voting card, we will not win the war. Let everyone prepare,” he said.

On Friday evening, Raila addressed a group of youth in Kisumu town, urging them to ensure all those aged 18 and above register as voters.

The CORD leader said he will not relent in his war against corruption, saying Kenyans were not getting desired services because of wanton pilferage of state resources through cartels.

The crowning ceremony started shortly after mid-day with Raila being ushered into Got Ramogi by the elders, each of who had been carefully selected by the Luo Council of Elders headed by ‘Ker” Willis Otondi.

The ritual had been rehearsed for weeks and details kept a top secret. Even some of Raila’s close allies did not know the arrangement. Otondi announced that an even bigger event will be conducted at the shame shrine once Raila gets the ticket to battle it out with President Kenyatta.

Favourite son

Once at the shrine, Raila faced the elders as they prepared his instruments of war. An eerie silence fell on the audience as the elders removed the specially made two-headed spear, a carefully decorated ‘kuot’ (shield) and a head gear. The elders then uttered some words as they handed over the instruments.

Mzee Otondi explained that the ceremony was a simple exercise usually performed by a community sending its favourite son to battle opponents.

He said Got Ramogi Shrine is significant because it was here that the first batch of Luo immigrants pitched camp after trekking for thousands of kilometers from the banks of River Nile in Sudan, hundreds of years ago.

“It is the original home of the Luo community,” said Otondi. He said the weapons given to Raila symbolised his endorsement to fight to liberate Kenya from bad governance.

The ritual, whose preparations the elders begun on the hill on Friday night with details of the happenings being kept secret, reached a climax yesterday afternoon. Raila was accompanied by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, his deputy Ouma Onyango and MPs John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi and Gideon Ochanda.

Earlier, the elders played a hide and seek game with members of the public as they tried to keep away from the multitudes who had thronged the area to witness the ceremony. At one time, word went round that the ceremony had been postponed, only for Raila to emerge at around noon.

The installation ceremony begun with prayers conducted by Bishop Charles Akello. Thereafter the elders led by Ker Otondi dressed the ODM party leader in traditional regalia before equipping him with the weapons of combat.

“With these, we endorse you as our lead warrior. Go and fight for our people, we will pray that you bring back victory,” said Otondi as he handed Raila the instruments.

Raila was first handed a sword strapped on his waist with a leather sheath. Traditionally, the sword was used to fight enemies in close quarter combats. He was then dressed in a traditional war regalia made from cow herd before he was handed a spear and a shield.

According to Otondi, the double headed spear was not for bloodied war but a peaceful attempt at taking over power from an enemy.

He said Raila’s installation as a warrior deserved the support of all Kenyans because he was going to war to liberate them all.

“Raila has fought many battles in this country and we have today given him the blessings and necessary tools to symbolise a warrior who is going out to face the enemies,” explained Otondi.

He hinted that other rituals would be done once CORD had picked their preferred candidate for the August 2017 elections.

Got Ramogi is billed as the cradle of the Luo after they arrived in Kenya nearly 800 years ago. It is also a shrine and has turned into a heritage site. The spot where Raila was installed a warrior served as Luo ancestor Jaramogi’s house.

The elders said the shrine was chosen for the ritual because Luo warriors also went there to be blessed ahead of battles.

Earlier on at a symposium held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Raila took the crowd through the history of the Luo community and called for respect and conservation of cultures.

“No culture is more superior than the other and we should therefore not disrespect other communities,” he said. The CORD leader shocked the audience with his deep understanding of the Luo history. Raila also called on the county government to work closely with the National Government’s ministry of heritage and culture to preserve the community’s heritage.