WILL SOUTH NYANZA SLIP FROM RAILA GRIP AT LAST

As Cord leader Raila Odinga continues with his referendum campaigns, President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee coalition is reaching out to his political enemies from his Nyanza political backyard.

Last week, Uhuru hosted politicians from the region in what is now being seen as a plot to isolate South Nyanza leaders from Raila. Of late, Raila has been facing rebellion from South Nyanza politicians who have all along been claiming that they never benefited from Raila’s five-year tenure as prime minister.

Leading the onslaught against Raila is Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno. The two fell out after Dalmas declared that he would run for the party’s national chairmanship and was forced to withdraw from the race.

Dalmas swallowed his pride and withdrew from the race but declared that he was in the process of forming another political party to rival ODM in Nyanza. Sources close to Dalmas had revealed that the party’s registration is in the process.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that a number of politicians from the region are behind the plan to form a new party claiming there is unbearable dictatorship in ODM. The new party’s name is Kalausi.

Back to the State House meeting, it is not clear whether the meeting was indeed to plan Uhuru’s planned visit to the region this week or it was a pure political meeting to counter Raila’s political influence in the region.

What is however raising eyebrows is that the list of those who attended the meeting.

Apart from Dalmas, Migori governor Okoth Obado also attended the meeting. Obado and Raila do not see eye to eye. He was elected on PDP ticket to the chagrin of Raila who had rigged him out during ODM nominations in favour of Akong’o Oyugi. Obado went ahead to trounce Oyugi and the matter ended up at the Supreme Court which upheld Obado’s victory.

Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga also attended the State House meeting but his presence shocked many since he is a well-known Raila ally. His teaming up with Obado who also do not see eye to eye with his wife Anne Anyanga speaks volumes. Anne was Oyugi’s running mate. There have been rumours that Obado and Anyanga had reconciled as Anyanga pushes Obado to have Anne be his running mate in 2017.

Others were Migori senator Wilfred Machage and MPs John Kobado (Uriri), Robi Mathias (Kuria West) and Shadrack Manga (Kuria East). It has come out that the Nyanza leaders declared after the meeting that they were ready and willing to work with Uhuru and Jubilee.

We have also gathered that the State House meeting was organised by Obado who is a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto and Dalmas.

What is raising suspicion is why a number of MPs and leaders from Migori county were not invited for the meeting. Among those who were sidelined were the outspoken Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Migori county women representative Dennita Ghati.

Those who attended the meeting have however dismissed those calling them traitors, saying Luo Nyanza is undeveloped and poor as a result of cheap, petty, retrogressive politics and endless jealousy amongst leaders.

It has also emerged that the leaders claimed that Central Nyanza politicians are self-centred and have sidelined those from South Nyanza for many years.

Dalmas has dismissed claims that he is working for Uhuru and Jubilee to divide the Luo community saying he is ready to work with only leaders focusing on development. He has stood his ground saying he will not be intimidated.

Dalmas had in the past publicly criticised his colleagues from Central Nyanza, accusing them of being self-centred, saying they sidelined those from South Nyanza for many years and benefitted during the Grand Coalition Government.