Unite to bolster 2017 bid, Raila Odinga urges supporters

Speaking at Kamasengre Primary School in Mbita Constituency during the Rusinga Cultural Festival and at Wath Onger in Migori on Friday, Raila re-emphasised the need for unity among the coalition's supporters.

His call came after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto summoned Jubilee leaders to State House to plan the next big battle at the 2017 General Election.

Raila said the Luo Union played a major role in uniting the community in the entire East African region.

"The union was so strong that we raised funds from our brothers in Dar es Salaam and Kampala to undertake various projects in Kenya," he said.

He mentioned the Ofafa Memorial Hall and Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology in Kisumu as some of these projects, and estates such as Ofafa Jericho and Ofafa Jerusalem in Nairobi as some of those connected to the Luo heritage.

It is time for the community to change its mentality, Raila urged, and work towards tremendous growth.

"We must change the cycle of poverty among our people and be enterprising. When you cannot save, you cannot invest too because of poverty," said Raila.

He said the youth must be empowered, and warned against dependence on handouts.

"There must be a cultural change in Nyanza for us to create wealth," said the former prime minister.

He also called for the empowerment of women, especially by giving them leadership positions.

To encourage this, the party leader said ODM would have 20 women leaders at the ward, sub-county and county levels spearheading campaigns for his presidential bid in 2017.

At the same time, ODM chairman John Mbadi accused some party members of disloyalty and apathy towards the party's affairs.

"Instead of helping Raila, we are busy fighting and wrangling in our counties. Let us not waste our resources on small positions because we are aiming higher in 2017," said Mbadi.

And the ker (chairman) of the Luo Council of Elders, Willis Otondi, said there was need for respect among the community's leaders.

"Let us stop this infighting and be one as it will give us the necessary strength to face our rivals," Otondi said.

Raila warned Kisumu residents against abandoning critical cultural practices.

He decried the manner in which the Luo culture had been eroded, especially among the youthful generation.

Present at the cultural event were governors Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Zachary Obado, Migori) and Cornel Rasanga (Siaya).

Members of Parliament in attendance were Mbadi (Suba), Junet Mohammed (Suna East), Oyugi Magwanga (Kasipul), Silvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul),Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Denita Ghati (Migori), Rose Nyamunga (Kisumu), Christine Ombaka (Siaya) and Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu East).

Awiti said the CORD leader has been consistent and steadfast in his criticism of the Jubilee government and should not relent in his calls for better leadership.

Ombaka called on leaders to ensure that everyone gets voting and identity cards in readiness for the next polls.

And Junet asked all defectors to go back to ODM as the party was now stronger.

At Rusinga and Nyatike, Raila said he would not relent in his fight for accountability and transparency.

"I was in Kamiti Prison for more than eight years and it was enough for a right-thinking person like me to know what a prison is so nobody should threaten me with arrest," Raila said.

He said President Kenyatta had himself admitted before the Pope that there was corruption in his government and appealed for prayers.

Raila said there was no way Kenya can achieve its development agenda if transparency and accountability are not exercised across all departments of the government.

He asked the Jubilee administration to stop fighting whistleblowers if they were interested in fighting corruption.

"We fought for a new constitution which gives every Kenyan an opportunity to express themselves in matters that can contribute to the development of the country. No Kenyan should be intimidated in their effort to salvage this country from corruption, which has become a big menace," said Raila.

"People like Deputy President William Ruto should stop dismissing my criticism on the corruption which has messed up this country's economy. This Jubilee administration should try to understand the economic hardship Kenyans are undergoing due to misuse of public funds."

He also called for investigations into the Eurobond financial scandal.

"We are also liaising with the international community to seek the truth about the Eurobond as the Government is economical with the truth," he said.

Raila later met the business community at a Kisumu hotel and youth and women representatives at Tom Mboya Labour College.

The cultural festival ends today with a football match final pitting the winner in the Ramogi Cup final against Gor Mahia Football club.