Kisumu
17/10/07
 
RAILA’S LUO SUPPORTERS WANT HIM TO SWITCH FROM LANG’ATA TO A SAFER CONSTITUENCY IN NYANZA!!

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The common talks that has filled the air in Kisumu and its environs is that the ODM Presidential candidate Raila Amolo Odinga should consider the possibility of abandoning his Lang’ata Constituency in Nairobi in favour of a safe rural electoral area in Nyanza Province.
 
Those selling the idea believe that Lang’ata might not be in a safe constituency due to the strong rumour making the round in the lakeside city that its voter’s registration books might have been grossly manipulated and interfered with purposedly to derail Raila Odinga Presidential bid.
 
Words making the round have it that the Lang’ata’s voters roll could have been interfered with following rumours that many non-residents of the area have infiltrated Lang’ata and have themselves registered as voters. Other infiltrators are said to have transferred themselves from other constituencies within Nairobi to Lang’ata.
 
It is being alleged some of the new voters were ferried to Lang’ata from as far fields as Egerton University in Njoro, Nakuru, Bomet and Chapalungu areas of Bomet district, allegedly at the instigations of the former President Daniel Arap Moi who has vowed to work for the downfall of ‘’Agwambo’’ at all costs!!.
 
The current constitution which is still very much in force stipulates an elected president of the Republic of Kenya must be an elected Member of Parliament.
 
Aware of this constitutional requirement and furthermore that Raila Odinga could beat the incumbent President Mwai Kibaki  with more than a million votes, politicians allied to the president are said to have worked and hatched plan B to ensure that ‘’Agwambo’’ did not get to State House.
 
And the only short cut to this is to create a constitutional crisis after the general elections in a scenario whereby Raila win the presidency with an overwhelming majority votes but loses his Lang’ata Parliamentary seat.
 
In the new strategy hatched to undermine Raila Odinga’s re-election in Lang’ata the names of many Luo voters in the area would be deleted under the pretex of double registration in order to trim down their number whereas more Luhya, Kalenjins, Kisiis, Kikuyus and other would be added in the voter’s register.
 
After realizing that the scheme had worked in their favour, anti Raila forces then shopped for a candidate whose pockets are loaded with cash and who could give Raila a run for his money. Here is where the semi- illiterate Mr. Stanley Livondo came in hand.
 
  Livondo was fished out of several other floated names who included the former Mungiki boss who was quickly dropped after it was realized that he lacked financial cloud to manage Raila.
 
Raila’s supporters in Luo Nyanza now want ‘’Agwambo’’ to abandon Lang’ata and move to a much safer constituency in the region.
 
Names of various constituencies safe for Raila have been floated. They included Muhoroni constituency where the Odinga family owned several large scale sugar cane farms therefore he is qualified to represent the area.
 
Other constituencies being mentioned include Bondo his birthplace, Kisumu Town West and East Constituencies. All are located in his Nyanza home turf. There would be very little logistics problems involved should Raila choose any of the constituencies mentioned above.
 
Ends.
Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com