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Gusii elders sign Mosocho Declaration to support Raila

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Published on Monday, 04 June 2007 02:23
Lang’ata MP, Mr Raila Odinga, demonstrated his commitment towards consolidating the Nyanza vote during his three-day campaign in Kisii, which culminated in the Mosocho Declaration.

His stay in the area saw a change of heart among the electorate, who turned out in huge numbers wherever he made impromptu stopovers. "I have come to share with you. I will eat and sleep here because this is home," Raila said upon arrival at Suneka airstrip where he was received by Gusii ODM-Kenya team leader Mr Timothy Bosire and hosts Mr James Ongwae and Mr Momoima Onyonka.

The declaration passed by 700 elders from Mwanyagetinge clans in the 10 Gusii constituencies resolved to back Raila’s candidature. "We as the Gusii community embrace ODM-Kenya as the political vehicle that represents the aspirations and hopes of our people and Raila will be our driver," read the declaration in part. The resolutions — first read by Mr Chris Bichage, who is the Nyaribari-Chache parliamentary aspirant — were repeated at Gusii Stadium where Raila concluded his tour on Friday. The elders, who said they were representing views of their clans, called for harmony and condemned cultural discrimination. They said cultural differences between the Luo, Abagusii and Abakuria should not be used as a tool for division.

They also underscored the mutual historical co-existence between the Luo and Abagusii, saying it could be invoked to give the region political power. Raila told the community that it was their son Bosco Gichana who donated the "hammer" that he was using in his campaigns. He introduced Gichana to the crowd.

Raila was on his second leg campaign trail of the area and received a major boost when former Cabinet minister, Prof Sam Ongeri graced his entourage. Prior to his surprise show up, word had been doing round in Kisii that ODM top brass was courting Ongeri to consolidate the party’s leadership given that he successfully handled the task during the referendum campaigns.

Although ODM-Kenya support in Kisii is intact, infighting among local leaders has seen South Mugirango MP and party National Treasurer Mr Omingo Magara’s grip weaken. Magara is accused of failing to unite local ODM-Kenya leadership. Observers say the local ODM-Kenya is facing imminent disintegration due to poor leadership and factional wars . But if they successfully reach out for Ongeri, he has the capacity to harmonise their interests for the common good of the community. However Ongeri, who was requested by his former colleague in the Cabinet and former Bobasi MP Mr Chris Obure to join Raila’s bandwagon, asked for a little more time.

"Me and Raila are great friends but we need to find time to sit and talk about the destiny of the Nyanza people," said Ongeri. Sources close to Ongeri confided in The Sunday Standard that presidential hopeful Mr Kalonzo Musyoka is also trying to reach out for the former Health minister.

But other political pundits argue that the old generation in the Gusii ODM-Kenya team is not generally in touch with the people and should therefore keep off. Most of them, they claim, represent bad memories while the other group represents hope and aspirations of Omogusii.

Instructively, the seasoned politicians are not comfortable with the so-called young Turks for they always embarrass them at public forums. During his stay, Raila held rallies in seven of the ten constituencies including Roads minister Simeon Nyachae’s Nyaribari Masaba, where he urged the ODM-Kenya fraternity not to underrate their opponents.

"We’re running out of time and we must choose a flag bearer by June 30. Your opponent can strike any time," he said. The doyen of opposition politics Mr Martin Shikuku, Mr Justus Mochoge, Wundanyi MP Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga, his Kasipul Kabondo counterpart Mr Paddy Ahenda, Luo Council of Elders chairman Mr Riaga Omollo and Magara accompanied Raila. Last Wednesday, Magara’s car was stoned in his constituency. Though nobody was injured, the vehicles’ windscreen was shattered. Later he blamed the attack on his detractors in Ford-People.

With the departure of Nyachae from active politics and due to his perennial opposition to Raila, Ongeri is seen as the compromise and a bridge between the old guard and the budding politicians.

Ongeri’s mobilisation skills have been tested. If Raila draws him to his side, he will certainly be a big catch. The electorate wanted only Raila to address them in Nyaribari Chache and Nyaribari Masaba. They said political opportunists should not be allowed to ride on the wave of Raila’s popularity.

Parliamentary aspirants allied to Raila have been consistent in supporting him. Raila used the projects he accomplished while serving as Minister for Roads as his rallying call and promised to do more.

"Look at the Kisii/Chemosit road and several ongoing road projects, that was my work. What have your ministers done?" asked Raila. "I know Abagusii are great banana farmers but do you have a factory?" he posed. He cautioned people to be wary of leaders claiming credit for work that was not theirs.