Luo Elders call on young leaders to follow proper channels in clinching leadership

The late Raila Odinga during Luo Council of Elders Chair (Ker)Odungi Randa coronation. [File, Standard]

A section of Luo Council of Elders in Migori County has challenged young Luo leaders to follow proper channels if they want to lead the community.

Led by their patron Jim Ayayo, the Luo elders said they welcomed the leadership of young and vibrant minds like Winnie Odinga and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party.

However, they cautioned them against causing chaos and destabilising the community’s peace, saying it might lead to division.

“For over three decades, the Luo community has enjoyed a peaceful political existence under the leadership of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga,” said Mr. Ayayo.

According to the Luo elders, the death of former ODM leader Raila Odinga’s death has not created a vacuum to cause discord among leaders and people from the community.

Moreover, they called upon Chairperson of the Luo Council of Elders Mzee Odungi Randa to convene antagonising teams within ODM to discuss the way forward for the community politically.

They highlighted that they had seen sharp internal ODM power struggles with one faction advocating for continued broad-based formation, while another faction championing an assessment of the formation's merits, with senior party figures pulling in different directions.

Raila's death and the installation of Oburu Oginga which was meant to be an orderly transition, has led to ideological and strategic divisions that risk weakening both the ODM party and the Luo community.

While ODM Party leader Oburu Oginga is seen as a stabilising force during the transition and pro broad-based formation, other opposing section continues to champion for a different path.