Prime Minister asked to keep off Luo council of elders' politics

By Nicholas Anyuor

Kajiado County

Embattled former Luo Council of Elders chair Riaga Ogalo has asked Prime Minister Raila Odinga to stop interfering with the council affairs.

Mr Ogalo, who led 27 Luo elders from the four counties in Nyanza Province, protested against the recent installation of Willis Opiyo Otondi as the new chairman at a ceremony attended by Raila and three Cabinet ministers from the region.

They termed Raila’s presence at the installation absurd, dictatorial, political and misleading to the community.

No procedure

Mr Odera Osawa, an elder who read the Press statement, said the procedure in electing a new chairman was not followed. He said they did not recognise Otondi and his faction.

"In the history of the Luo people, a politician has never single-handedly elected a Ker. We will follow the tradition in matters of culture," said Osawa.

They said the council constitution provides for appointment and dethroning of a Ker, which was not followed. They vowed to support Riaga as chair of the council until he leaves office as stipulated in the constitution.

Last week, Raila and a number of Nyanza MPs attended the installation of Otondi as the new Luo Council of Elders and told council members to safeguard the community’s culture by offering wise counsel on health and socio-economic issues.

At the ceremony, Riaga was accused of mismanaging the office and visiting Libya without the blessing of the council.