Raila’s visit to DC-Baltimore area was a disappointment due to David Arunga , Obel (ODMK), Opon (agwambo.com) and John Akumu’s lack of Leadership.

In Diaspora, well organized group of day dreamers from USA/Canada, are wrangling, tearing and slandering each other in the cyber politics. The websites are full of counter accusations and senseless sycophancy statements. These are being witnessed among ODMK/ Raila007/ Kalonzo/Agwambo.com.

The efforts by Raila to tame his warlords hit dead end in Washington DC-Baltimore. The much published dinner fund raising flopped miserably after his aide in Nairobi office, Mr. Dave Arunga downplayed the popular and respected Diaspora leaders in North-East US. Instead, he directed all programmes to ODMK-USA Coordinator Mr Obel Nyanja, John Akumu and David Opon (Agwambo.com). Even after the Raila007 vehemently appealed to Arunga to have information about Raila itineraries be coordinated by their central organ, they were turned down and marginalized.

The Raila007 leaders, despite all these, called for collaboration in an open email. This too was openly and publicly rejected by David Opon, “No Collaboration with Raila007”, says Opon via an email sent to all ODM-K USA members shutting down Dr. Omburo’s appeal to Raila007 supporters to give Raila a dignified DC area visit.

It was a shame and a disgrace for Raila when he found a big and empty hall in Washington DC . The Raila007 team from NJ and Raila’s own entourage made more than 50% of all attendees. The total was close to 50 in a hall the size of Basket court. Even when the entry fee was reduced from $100 to $20, no more people stepped forward to pay or come.

The DC-Baltimore area supporters boycotted the function except a handful of Raila diehards.

Obel, Akumu and Opon had dinner with Raila at Akumu's house before proceeding to the venue. It is also being circulated that, Raila007 team did not know that they were attending a function hosted by ODM K USA (and not Agwambo.com as they had believed from their chairman’s email) and that they learnt of the true host when it was announced during the function.

This has put the rift even wider, given that all that money will have to be given to the ODMK party and not for Raila campaign activities. The group has previously expressed strong objection to Raila supporters using the party name to raise funds that should be going to Raila activities.

Mr Obel collaborated with ODMK-USA treasurer, who took all the funds raised without official sanctioning, which he had said he was to handover to Magara in Washington DC. It is said that Hon Magara publicly denied receiving any funds on behalf of ODM K from Obel.

To avoid even more injuries, and what was going to be another pathetic function; Raila had to cancel his public address of Kenyans in North-Carolina. This was due to leadership wrangles between ODMK-USA and Raila007. This was as a result of Mr. Obel and John Akumu imposing leadership on the popular Raila007 team in the North Carolina function to change host name to ODM K. The group refused and chased Obel away at the airport.

It is now eminent that the Diaspora is discouraged in the manner on which Raila's friends are conducting themselves and Raila himself not taking any action to stop this wrangling. Nevertheless, most of the blames go to David Arunga, who cares more about the funds but less about Raila's PR. He refused to use an established organization to which John Akumu is purported to belong (Raila007) to coordinate Raila’s DC visit as was requested of him.

In Raila's telecon with Diaspora, Mr Patrick Limumba Okeyo, asked Raila what is his opinion on the wrangling among his supporters in Diaspora. He replied that, it is a shame for his supporters to exchange bitter words in the websites. When he was asked about the ODMK-USA funds which were recently raised by those who are known to be his supporters, he pointed out that all the funds raised for ODMK must be submitted to Magara not him and that Magara will be in DC to receive the money, which Magara confirmed he never received.

It’s a pity that Raila’s friends do not see their spoils and that they need to stay back and let others run these things for them. But instead, they want to show-off to Raila that they are the doers. When will Raila ever learn that Diaspora is not Luoland, that no one can be frog matched to support unpopular leaders or that such arrogant leaders like Obel, Akumu and Opon can not be imposed on them?

Achuth Oracha