Kidero's Endorsement for Top Seat Sets Stage for Raila Succession Split

Ishmael · 2014-10-12T19:34:24+00:00

Last weeks proposal that Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero should run for president in 2017 has once again ignited debate over whether Nyanza could be ready for a new political kingpin to replace former Prime MinisterRaila Odinga. At a fund-raiser in Homa Bay County, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka of ODM urged Dr Kidero to vie for the top seat in the next General Election. Onyoka was speaking in Kabondo Kasipul constituency where Kidero was presiding over a harambee in aid of Kabondo Kasipul Women Sacco.Onyonkas statement was criticised by some ODM MPs who described it as an act of disrespect to Raila, the regions political supremo for nearly two decades. However, Onyonka was unapologetic. The legislator noted that Kidero enjoyed political support in Gusii region and said a working relationship between South Nyanza and the Gusii community would give the governor a head start should he run for the top job. Kidero is viewed favourably by Kisii people because we are neighbours and due to the fact that he has appointed more than 15 people from the community in his government, he said. Although Kidero has not publicly declared his intention to vie for president in 2017, the frequent fund-raisers he presides over in the region have raised his profile among local groups. Politics has gone local. If South Nyanza works with the Gusii and Kuria communities, he will carry a larger part of Nyanza region and his business will only be to consolidate support from Central Nyanza so that he is not seen as Railas rival, said the legislator. Others who attended the function were Homa Bay County governor Cyprian Awiti and Kabondo-Kasipul MP Sylvance Osele.Regions rooster Mr Osele said although the region still recognised Raila as a rooster of the ODM party, this does not prevent other cocks from crowing. Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tongi said the Gusii region was keen to support leaders with a track record of initiating development projects. We are interested in development and if Kidero is willing to help us, he is welcome to our region, Tongi said. Speaking to The Standard on Sunday last week, Kidero steered clear of the controversial subject. I am currently working for the people of Nairobi who elected me but that does not stop me from initiating development projects in other parts of the country. But according to political analyst and Maseno University lecturer Tom Mboya, Kidero should not alienate Raila in his bid to rise to the helm of Nyanza politics. He should not paint himself as an enemy of Raila who is seen as a prince by the people of Luo Nyanza. Instead, he should work with him as he covertly crafts strategies to seek the blessings of the electorate to avoid a hostile response, he said. Although youthful ODM MPs are perceived to be aligned to Kidero, the partys old guard have stuck it out with the former PM. Most of the fund-raisers Kidero has been presiding over have been in constituencies represented by youthful MPs. However, one of the first term MPs said endorsing Kidero for the top seat is likely to renew tensions between the city governor and Raila, his party boss. When the right time comes, we are likely to consider him (Kidero) because he is now the seniormost elected Luo politician and his development track record speaks for itself, he said. Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir said he would calls to support Kidero. Nyanza already has a king (Raila). We do not need another one. His Rarieda counterpart Nicholas Gumbo said Kidero had not done enough in Nairobi to warrant his endorsement for the top job. I live in Nairobi but everywhere I look, nothing has changed in the first 18 months of the devolved governments, he complained. Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang, a close Raila ally, laughed off Kideros endorsement. Kajwang, instead, claimed the governor was perpetuating divisive politics in Nyanza. Doing two or three harambees does not qualify one to be President. He needs to do more and he will not go far unless he changes tact, he said. Political riftsHoma Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma cautioned ODM members and supporters to be wary of leaders seeking to create unnecessary political rifts within the party. Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire faulted Onyonka, and said he did not provide a convincing reason for endorsing the Nairobi governor for the presidency.It does not mean if Raila contested three times then he is a failure. Even Abraham Lincoln of the US contested seven times and won in the end, Bosire said.Head of Political Science at the University of Nairobi Adams Oloo says Onyonka supported Kidero without basing it on a tangible issue.Onyonka might have been appreciating Kidero for something he did to him as an individual but his endorsement does not carry weight, Dr Oloo said.But other ODM members asked their counterparts to be tolerant and accept divergent opinions.Kasipul politician Odoyo Owidi said: ODM suffers from politics of intolerance and anybody who does not toe the line is perceived by those around Raila to be Jubilee moles.Gem politician Elisha Odhiambo asked Nyanza politicians to respect each another, and said internal public wrangles paint the Orange party in bad light.Politicians should give Kidero time to initiate development projects in different part of this country. Perpetual political agitation is counterproductive, he said.Even though the quest for political change in Nyanza has began, it is yet to gain momentum.Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno has been vocal about his pursuit to counter ODMs dominance and wants to form a political movement, Kalausi, to rival ODM.There is the ad hoc Luo Nyanza Dialogue Committee spearheaded by some former MPs and professionals which seeks to transform regional politics.The team led by Owidi and backed by some Luo Council of Elders aims at addressing key issues. This includes forging unity of the region ahead of the ODM party primaries. - standardmedia.co.ke

Thread starter Ishmael
Start date Oct 12, 2014

Ishmael

JamiiForums uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.

Accept Learn more…

Back

Top Bottom

Forums

New posts

Kidero's Endorsement for Top Seat Sets Stage for Raila Succession Split

Ishmael

JF-Expert Member

Our Community

Regional Communities