- Led by former police spokesman Charles Owino, ODM must allow multi-party democracy to take root in Luo Nyanza first before talking about the issue elsewhere.
- The reaction came after a section of ODM leaders has in the recent past declared Nyanza as an ODM zone and went ahead to warn that UDA will nolonger be tolerated in the area.
Image: HANDOUT
President William Ruto's political troops in Luo Nyanza region on Sunday told the ODM leaders to practice the democratic ideals they preach to the rest of Kenyans in their backyard and to stop engaging in double speak.
Speaking to the Star, the president's allies, led by former police spokesman Charles Owino, ODM must allow multi-party democracy to take root in Luo Nyanza first before talking about the issue elsewhere.
The reaction came after a section of ODM leaders has in the recent past declared Nyanza as an ODM zone and went ahead to warn that UDA will nolonger be tolerated in the area.
A section of legislators from the area on Friday during the burial of the late Phillip Makabon'go singled out and directed their attacks on the interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo.
The burial of Makabon'go who was Migori County ODM chairman was attended by several ODM MPs, governors even the party leader Raila Odinga among other local leaders.
Owino who served as the UDA coordinator for Siaya County before being appointed to chair the KIMC board said Kenya is a democratic state and reminded the ODM leadership that Luo Nyanza is part of that state called Kenya.
"It is ridiculous that some ODM elected leaders preach about democracy in other parts of the country but are turning Luo Nyanza into a single-party region.
"We have seen these opposition leaders priding themselves as having expanded democratic space in Kenya but behave like Luo Nyanza is a colony of the opposition. This is unacceptable," Owino said.
The UDA allies from Luo Nyanza at the same time asked leaders from the region to stop beating drums of war in the Luo Nyanza region.
This was in response to a violent confrontation that left one person dead and others injured in Rongo, Migori County on Thursday.
Supporters of ODM and those of the area MP Paul Abuor clashed on Thursday ahead of the burial of Migori County ODM chairman Phillip Makabon'go.
The MP is amongst the Luo Nyanza MPs who are seen as rebels, having decided to work closely with President William Ruto.
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo and Ugenya MP David Ochieng have in the recent past been forced to leave in a huff, funerals within their Constituencies due to fracas.
On Sunday, Owino said the opposition leaders have failed to ensure they use their positions as elected leaders well to empower and develop the area.
He claimed some of them are now running scared owing to the numerous development initiatives being rolled out in the region by the Kenya Kwanza Government, backed by senior government officials from the region.
" If you are truly working for the good of our people by ensuring funds coming to the four Luos Nyanza counties are prudently utilised then why are you bothered by the activities of UDA in this region? " Owino quipped.
"These people are worried because they're serving their self-interests and are now panicking because their followers are beginning to see through the lies they have been fed for decades when Luo Nyanza remained in opposition," he said.
They asked the ODM Party leaders to give way to new faces from the area who are willing to implement devolution while expanding, genuinely, the democratic space without discrimination.
During the burial of Migori County ODM chairman Phillip Makabon'go in Rongo on Friday, Interior PS Raymond Omollo became the subject of discussion by most of the politicians who addressed the mourners.
Owino said that while they will continue to urge UDA supporters from Luo Nyanza to embrace peace, the opposition should be reminded that UDA is the government of the day.
"Violence is for the primitive who can't persuade people to support their ways. We're poor as a region and our concern, as leaders from this region should be how to fight poverty, not violence," Owino noted.
" We don't want war. We need peace to be able to grow the region in terms of development. We respect former prime minister Raila Odinga and what he has worked for over the years," he said.
Regarding their support for Ruto, the said:
"We are simply embracing the same democracy that Raila says he fought for and claims to champion."
But in a rejoinder, ODM's Director of Communication Phillip Etale downplayed the attacks and said the party is focused on the ongoing party grassroots elections.
He said ODM's main focus is to increase its numbers through the ongoing membership recruitment drive.
"We want to strengthen our party, rejuvenate the grassroots and make it more stronger, inclusive and attractive to the people," Etale said.
"We don’t want to sink to the level of "noisemakers" from the other party ( UDA)."
Nyanza UDA coordinator Aggrey Otore asked ODM to push its governors, MPs and MCAs to work for the people who elected them instead of directing their energies to fight those who have been appointed by President William Ruto.
"It is a shame that we continue to refer patients to Eldoret because our people can't get some of these services in the county-managed hospitals," he said.
He at the same time challenged ODM to fully implement devolution as envisaged in counties led by ODM governors for the benefit of their supporters.
"We have been told several times that ODM brought devolution and democracy. You must give us space to practice that democracy. The democratic space you preach about must be observed here in Luo Nyanza and we have no apologies to make for joining UDA," Otore added.
Kisumu-based lawyer Joshua Nyamori who is also a director at the National Housing Cooperation called upon the IG and the DCI director to ensure some ODM politicians accused of inciting people to violence are investigated and prosecuted.
He noted that doing so would serve as a warning to the leaders that acts of violence and any form of lawlessness have no place in the country.
" I want to tell the ODM fraternity to stop living in the past. Things have changed even on Luo Nyanza. The party's leadership should understand that Luo Nyanza is not a colony," he said
"Luos are a free people with free will to make political choices," the lawyer added.
The move by the members of the community to migrate to UDA, he noted, will not be stopped by ODM through the use of violence.
"We in UDA are engaged in serious and legal mobilization to strengthen our party and we will continue to do grassroots mobilization," Nyamori asserted.
He asked the members of the opposition party to accept the fact that with time UDA will be the majority party in the Nyanza region.
"We want to reiterate that we will continue to work with senior government officials like interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo and his colleagues in government and to fully back the president to realise social economic development in our region."
However, Kisumu County UDA youth leader Osako Junior appealed to youths from the region not to be misused to fan violence.
"Don't allow yourselves to be used to cause chaos and you end up losing your lives. When there's is an opportunity for dialogue the youth are nowhere especially when those who use them cut deals," he said
Chairman of Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency Odoyo Owidi said some of the ODM leaders are just jealous of the sons and daughters of Luo Nyanza who are serving in government.
He claimed that the opposition party leaders can't believe that senior officials like Dr Raymond Omollo are serving in powerful dockets without the involvement of their leaders.
He claimed that they are also envious of the development activities the PS and other top government officials from Luo Nyanza serving in government are doing in Nyanza.
"The PS recently Mobilized resources to open up the Canals that eased flooding in Nyando. He is also helping needy students to go to school and empowering women, especially widows in the 4 Luo Nyanza counties. These activities are not pleasant to those who don't like to see our region develop," he said.
The Homa Bay County UDA chairman hopeful Ken Ondiek said the interior PS Omollo has no power over the police since he is not the IG.
He said it is ill-advised for the ODM politicians to blame the PS over actions taken by the police.
" If there were any differences or confrontations between the police and ODM supporters in Rongo, then that should be addressed through the leadership of the national police service," he said.
He noted that the police service has its command structure adding that they are independent.
" Going forward, we will not entertain any unwarranted attacks by the politicians against our brothers and sisters appointed to work in government who are helping our people. ," he said.
Etale, however, described the attacks as mere excuses and propaganda aimed at discrediting the ODM party in the region.
He said the leaders are looking for a scapegoat after failing to popularise the party in the region.
"They keep on whining and making all sorts of excuses and spreading propaganda because they know the lies they sold to President Ruto that they can make UDA gain control of Nyanza region," he said.
" This has failed to materialize after the ground reaffirmed its support for the ODM party."
He said UDA allies should stop blaming ODM for their failures.
" Most of those making noise are rent-seekers who thought they would continue making money from their suitors by lying to them that all is well on the ground," he added.
" Those serving in government know the kind of dirty business they are doing on the ground and they are better placed to explain to you why they received the tongue-lashing from ODM leaders at the late Philip Makabongo’s funeral."