By Anderson Ojwang
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga looks to be a man trapped in his own political mirage, wondering on which way to go in his next political move and doesn’t want to alter the existing arrangements.
Raila is breathing hot and cold at the same time, creating confusion and indecision not only among his followers but across the political spectrum.
Raila’s speeches and actions are at variance further leading to questions, what does Raila really wants or is it another charade and wild goose chase?
On Friday at funeral in Karachuonyo,Raila came to the defense of Siaya Governor James Orengo who has been critical of his political pact with President William Ruto terming, who termed it as “a disaster and abomination”.
While Raila was speaking in Karachuonyo, his Orange Democratic movement (ODM) Executive Director Oduor Ongwen was meeting Secretary General of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Hassan Omar in Nairobi.
Omar wrote on UDA Facebook page “The Secretary General of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Sen. Hassan Omar Hassan, this morning held a consultative meeting with the Executive Director of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Odour Ongw’en at the ODM Headquarters, Chungwa House, Nairobi.
The consultations are aimed at building synergies which further cement the foundation of the Broad-based Government (BBG) by identifying areas of convergence between the UDA and ODM and design government programs and interventions which align with the recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Also present; Sabastian Mwangangi, Special Advisor to UDA Secretary General and Jarred Omachi, ODM Acting Director Membership.”
At the recent the burial of Raila’s long serving and trusted aide George Oduor, Orengo did not fail to state his disapproval of the union in the presence of Ruto and Raila.
Orengo said he would not fall to praise and worship songs as had been exhibited by previous speakers from the region.
The Governor said he cannot sing song of praises for the government and that it was a right for the people of Siaya to receive development from the government.
“What I am trying to say is that let us build a society, that is built on the constitution and the rule of law.
We can say many things but for me, I cannot be praise singing.
Because we fought for a democratic constitution, where people should talk.
I was in Parliament when people used to tell President Daniel Arap Moi that, there is no where you will go and that you will be in power until the day you want to go.
So, this country will go to the dogs again, if the kind of language I am hearing here today continues.
In a different viral clip Orengo said I want to say those in a rush to join Ruto, that Ruto is a passing cloud.
Ruto is taking us into a sinking ship.
I am urging everybody that is joining Ruto is a disaster and abomination.
It cannot work.
Ruto must go with all his people.”
In Karachuonyo, Raila said the freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution and that Orengo committed no sin when he spoke out on the political pact.
“In ODM we resolved to have an alliance but that doesn’t mean all of us have joined the government.
You know in USA, the Republican government, they used to have a Democratic Government, former president Joe Bidden had some ministers who were members of republican party, despite the fact that was a democratic administration.
Likewise, President Donald Trump has got some democrats in his cabinet today.
There is no coalition between democratic party and republican party in the USA.
We are running a presidential system of government; we don’t have opposition benches and government benches.
We have what we call parliament as an institution.
Parliament oversights the government.
The executive implements the policies, parliament passes laws.
There is no coalition between ODM and UDA.
But it is an arrangement which is based on MOU that was signed between us, and it was done in an open day light.
We have very clear points on that MOU, which are very explicit indeed.
I don’t see the reason why people are bickering, when Orengo talks, he is talking on the basis of MOU between ODM and UDA.
Orengo has not committed any crime, he has the democratic right to say what he was saying.
When prof Anyang Nyong’o speaks about devolution, he is talking the language of ODM.”
President Ruto was recently accompanied by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga to China and it came hot in the heels after Ruto appointed the latter son, Jaoko Oburu as a special advisor on Economics and Sustainable Livelihood.
Dr Oburu is currently an ardent support of broad-based government and has maintained that they were rightfully in the broad-based government and have no reason to pull out.
“We joined the broad-based government to help you stabilize the government and we were not worried by those objecting to the new political formation.
We want to encourage the country to be peaceful, we are going to work together and those our friends who think otherwise should, should also continue to think otherwise and we will remain friends with them, but they should know as ODM we have decided to work in this broad-based government.
We have lent you people to work with you and what I want to appeal for, let our region get it share of development,” he said.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has also declared that the community was in government to stay and that they have given Raila the mandate to work with the president.
“I want to thank Raila for agreeing to work with you closely to unite this country.
Your Excellency, where you sit be rest assured that Baba has got our collective mandate as the people of this region to assist you unite this country.
And from where we sit your Excellency, there is no turning back, we have made a decision, that we are working with you and we are doing this to the end.
Your Excellency do not be threatened by anything or anybody.
And those shouting Ruto must go, I want to tell you this, he is going nowhere.
In this region, we are not known to be double speakers, we say what we believe in, and we do what we say.
We have said in one accord, we are in this government as a people and we want to continue in that manner,” he said.
Alego MP Sam Atandi once an ally of Orengo but now a bitter critic asked Orengo to concentrate in managing Siaya county government where he claimed he has failed to deliver.
“We are in government.
We are participating in creating policies for this government.
And we are supporting this government inside and outside parliament.
I want to tell my governor Orengo, last weekend, we were at a funeral in Siaya, when the president came to condole with us.
My governor made certain remarks that were really distasteful.
I want to tell Orengo that Luos were not created to stay in the opposition.
I know he has been in opposition since he was born and there is nothing he understands other than opposition.
Let him concentrate in managing Siaya county,” he said.
