A breakdown in communication chain is the origin of the crisis that could be traced to the existing rivalry between Raila Odinga and William Ruto since the Kanu days. The national politics dimension depicts a simmering rivalry between two opposing political camps – the Kieleweke which is viewed as pro- Raila and Tangatanga perceived to be pro-Ruto ahead of a penultimate 2022 elections
It is at the centre of the Ruto-Raila conflict that any political move aimed at Ruto will be seen as coming from Raila and vice versa. This is why the political rivalry is not just the kind of dust that will settle just easily any time soon.
Raila
The boycott of the 4th legislative summit by Raila, Uhuru and Ruto, perhaps more clearly was to have symbolised clashing interests by MCAs and the executive. The kind of control the trio exerts on county governments has put the party leader Raila on the spotlight. The view that his hotel, the Royal Grand Swiss was winning the right to host conferences single-handedly against an open-bidding tendering system has taken matters to their farthest edge.
But why is Raila facing a backlash? For starters, there is a disconnect between what Raila presents versus what the party membership truly want. The lower echelons in the party feel side-stepped and often by-passed in major decisions such as the home and away defeat in Ugenya and Embakasi South of the defeat. Muhoroni protested and retorted with at Raila and what awaits him the impending Kibra by election.
The strife over direct nomination has shown that Agwambo needs to do much to win back the confidence, trust and loyalty of his supporters, many bogged down by voter apathy. Some have said that they fear participating in future party or national election because of “low trust” in the big party bureaucracy and the IECB for the fact that their wish will not be represented or they may not have the right person elected. Even those elected have abandoned the electorate, threatening the future of the paryty.
Uhuru
Although Raila feels they were hired goons to disrupt and embarrass him, the past worrisome by-election results from Ugenya and Embakasi South showed that the average party membership were passing a message to the party top hierarchy that the people were feeling this message was being ignored.
It all came in a glance a few weeks ago with has been queer happening behind the scenes made of of ODM party dirty politics on how Kisumu county Senator and his Team Kali rebels Rosa Buyu and Achi Alai now seen to probably be the people Ruto is fronting discreetly after MP Muhoroni James Onyango Koyoo coughed it out at a funeral in Ahero Nyando subcounty.
The tough talking K’oyoo told Kisumu county governor Anyang Nyong’o that Nitie Tonde motudi mabiro goi piny negi tudo na tondego tona chodo (Governor there are ropes tied by cartels as traps and if you are not careful, you will fall down pangla big thud), he lamented.
K’oyoo who denied hiring goons to interrupt Industrial Park that the community in Ombeyi Muhoroni, where the crowd insisted that they wanted land instead of the park, claiming they were not consulted and also added that historical injustices that existed since the pre-colonial period have brought land ownership to be a hot button issue since Muhoroni was a settlement scheme from pre-colonial days.
Onyango K’oyoo
Turn to the news management over the China trip of Raila and Uhuru which Media houses were quick to dismiss as “empty-handed”. But more needs to be read into what was actually kept away from the media. The subject in question was the extension phase of the SGR from Naivasha through to Kisumu and ultimately to Malaba in Bungoma county.
Apparently, there was a clever information management act by both Raila and Uhuru: simply leave the masses guessing and why not? The Tangatanga team was already poking holes into the quest by the duo, arguing that the extension of SGR should reach Eldoret instead.
Although previously elected as People’s Democratic Party ticket K’oyoo struggled his way to assert his win of the ODM party ticket.
Kisumu Women Representative Rosa Buyu
The disillusionment within the orange party, hierarchy, the bureaucratic off the ground tactics by those running the party and the ‘shielding’ they give Raila from his supporters only renders the latter a ‘visitor’ whenever he appears for a rally, funeral or meet the people engagement.
The status of Kisumu and the action plan that Raila unveiled seems not to digest easily through the spine of his supporters. Devolved government here is seen as yet another cash cow and reward arena where loyalty is promoted and disobedience punished.
According to Kisumu based independent political analysts who was contacted by this writer for a brief comment, the professor said the latest move to develop the Industrial Park is seen as an afterthought at the face of the underperforming sugar factories like Muhoroni, Chemelil and Miwani all reeling under management.
Ironically, they argue that proposed project shall not create jobs in a case where the three factories have been neglected to the ruins. They argue that the amalgamation or merger of the three into one will invite the rigours of capitalism where fears of past unpaid deliveries, conflicts of interest will revisit them.
