Reject leaders seeking to divide you, CORD leader urges supporters

CORD leader Raila Odinga speaking during the burial of Mama Caren Ogalo Olweny in Muhoroni constituency Kisumu county on July 9 2016. The diseased was the mother of ODM chairman Kisumu County and former minister Prof Ayiecho Olweny. PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Principal Raila Odinga has warned leaders against sowing tribal animosity among Kenyans.

“Sowing seeds of disunity in our people will not help us solve our problems as a country,” said Raila. “We want our people to unite because unity is strength.”

Speaking at Maseno Mission in Emabungo ward, Vihiga County, during the requiem mass for veteran educationist Paul Oywaya Sitati, Raila said dividing communities for political gain amounts to enslaving them.

The ODM leader said a section of leaders was working hard to divide the country along tribal lines. “We want to build a Kenya that is all inclusive and not just for a particular people or a particular region,” he said.

Raila’s visit to the region comes days after MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) and Paul Otuoma (Funyula) resigned from their positions as ODM secretary general and vice chairman respectively.

The Opposition leader said things will not be the same after his visit to Western from July 18 to meet grassroots leaders. “That is when we will talk politics,” he said.

He urged leaders to dedicate their lives to fighting Kenya’s key problems that include sickness, poverty, illiteracy and bad leadership. “When one dies, his goodness while still alive will be measured on how he fought these vices,” he said.

Raila and the leaders who accompanied him, including Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o and nominated MCA Ben Ombima, steered clear of the recent resignations by top ODM leaders.

The CORD leader also cautioned the Luo and Nandi communities living along the volatile Muhoroni-Nandi border to stop reckless cross boundary feuds.

Speaking during the burial of the late mama Caren Ogallo, mother of former Education assistant minister Ayienyo Olweny, at Ombeyi village in Muhoroni Constituency, Raila asked the two communities to resolve their differences amicably.

“We don’t want our people to fight their neighbours who we are courting for support,” he said.

He said the Luo Council of Elders Chair Opiyo Otondi has been tasked to lead mediation talks with the Nandi community. He was accompanied by Senators James Orengo and Nyong’o and MPs Fred Outa, Onyango Koyoo, Opiyo Wandayi, Aduma Owuor and Rose Nyamunga.

Meanwhile, Bungoma Senator and CORD Co-principal Moses Wetang’ula has asked Raila to support his bid to become Kenya’s fifth president.

Wetang’ula said he expected nominations for the CORD’s flag bearer to be free and fair and expressed optimism that Raila “will return a hand” given the support he accorded him in 2013.

Speaking in Alego Usonga, in Raila’s home turf of Siaya County during a fundraiser, Wetang’ula said he will support whoever wins the ticket. “To help us move forward, we must be our brothers’ keepers and should either (Wiper leader) Kalonzo Musyoka or Raila wins the nomination, I will support them,” he said.