RAILA GOT MIXED RECEPTION DURING EXTENSIVE TOUR OF RIFT VALLEY AND NYANZA PROVINCES

By Leo Odera Omolo

When Raila Odinga visited South Nyanza recently, he wound up his tour in a chaotic note when youth aligned to two rural political camps fought a running battle in both Rongo and Awendo Town in Migori district.

Score of people sustain injuries.  Police had to fire in the air to scare away enraged youths who fought sporadic battles as they took to their heels following stone throwing incidents.

The ODM-K presidential hopeful Raila Amolo Oginga had an extensive, high profile tour of southern Rift and Nyanza Provinces and received a mixed kind of receptions.

The tour took Raila and his entourage to Bomet, Bureti and Kericho districts where he was received by enthusiastic crowds. His tour of the Kipsigis land was partly successful, while his tour of Kuria district was marred by heavy rains which made several rural access and feeder roads impassable.

Raila's tour of Ainamoi and Belgut constituencies in Kericho district was the biggest success story. The earlier projection was, however, that many people including the local MPs and political luminaries, especially those supporting ODM-K would be in attendance.

But the KANU MPs, who belonged to one of the parties, which formed the ODM-K, stayed away. In Aiinamoi, Noah N Arap Too was nowhere to be seen as was his Belgute counterpart Charles Kater. But Raila's meeting went on as planned without a hinch.

Two Nominated MPs Kipkalia Kones (Ford People) and Franklin Bett (LDP) had accompanied Raila throughout his tour of the Kipsigis region, and jointly addressed the rallies together.

But the Lang'ata MP had a hectic time during his tour of Kuria district. Several vehicles in his encourage got stuck in the mud, and the owners had to seek lift from those driving four-wheel vehicles.

Kuria leaders took Raila to task saying he had failed to repair the roads in the district while he was serving in the Narc government as a Minister of Roads. But Raila countered back this accusation, saying his Ministry was frustrated by the Kibaki Administration which refused to release roads funds meant for Nyanza.

Agwambo bravely brushed aside the accusation that he had failed to repair most of the roads in Kuria, saying the Ministry was frustrated by the Treasury's fragrant refusal to release money for roads projects in Nyanza and in other places.

It was at Boito Pentecostal Assemble Church of God (PAG) where Raila lifted the Holy Bible and swore before the Almighty God that President Mwai Kibaki had told his Narc Coalition colleagues that he would be a one term president. He challenged the president to do like wise before a church of God.

The noticeable absentees during Raila tours were the three MPS represting various constituencies within the Kericho disctrict. These were Noah N. Arap Too (Aianamoi), Charles Kater (Belgut) and Dr. Sammy Ruto (Kipkellion).

It was not clear however, the reason why these MPs had kept themselves away from Raila meeting. But, observers were quick in pointing out that the Kericho MPs were in the William Ruto's camp within the ODM-K. This was a clear indication that the ODM-K is torn up by factional groups which are vehemently opposed to each other.

In Migori district, Raila's efforts to market local MPS to the people hit a snag. He was told point blank to his face that the Wananchi would give unswerving support to his presidential bid, but the sitting Luo Mps will have to fight it out on their own.

Raila's attempt to persuade crowds in both Awendo and Rongo towns provoked stone throwing by youths aligned to Ayacko. The violence erupted after Raila had asked the audience in Dho-luo saying "parnauru Nyarkwar Jamoko", which has a loose meaning that they should also vote for Ayacko.

The crowd roared back in affirmative rejection of the youthful Rongo MP, and this angered his youths who started throwing stones at the crowd. The police had a hectic time in chasing the fighting youths in all directions while Raila and his team jumped onto their cars and sped away towards Kisii.

In Awendo Town, the police fired in the air to scare the youths who were engaged in a running battle and fist fight.

The obvious symptoms were that the KANU second national chairman, Dalmas Otieno had an upper hand in public backing in Rongo. The incumbent Ayacko sensed danger of being heckled and transported youths in several vans from Awendo to Rongo. Most of the youths, according to local sources in both Awendo and Rongo towns, were hired political goons from outside the constituency.

In his tour of Migori, Kuria and Rongo, Raila had in his entourage Otieno Kajwang' (Mbita) Prof Ayiecho Olweny (Muhoroni), Ken Nyagudi (Kisumu Town West) former Assistant Minister and MP for Mugirango Borabu Joseph Kiangoi, Kipkalia Kones (Ford People) and Franklin Bett (LDP Nominated).

Although Raila did not come in the open to drum up support for Ochillo Ayacko, people were able to note his word in proverb reference to Ayacko. And the electorates were heard shouting at the top of their voices, that any coalition between KANU and the LDP was a marriage of convenience which would soon explode into the open.

Meanwhile a good number pf Luo parliamentary aspirants are said to be shopping for admission in other parties, suspecting that ODM-K nomination would not bef ree and fair because of Raila's usual biased campaign in favour of the unpopular sitting Luo MPs, most of whom are now facing total reflections by the electorate.

Also in Raila's entourage was the Migori MP Charles Oyugi Owino (Jalikowa) whose popularity seemed to be on the upward trends, former Mp for Migori George Owino Achola who has already declared his interest to contest his former seat and the Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode.

Ayacko of late is reported to be having a lean time with the electorate in his Rongo backyard following allegations that members of his family had the monopoly of business with the nearby Sony Sugar Company. The MP recently filed a defamation of character suit against three aspirants in Rongo Parliamentary seat demanding Kshs. 10 million in general damage. The legal suit, which he filed in a High Court at Kisii, stated that the aspirants had defamed him at a meeting of farmers at the South Nyanza outgrowers Company in Awendo Town.

The three are Ong'ondo Ng'ani (Kamagambo), Odhiambo Ng'ura (Central Sakwa) and Dalmas Otieno.

Ends
Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
LUOCOME-MEDIA