By Anderson Ojwang
In Migori County, the soft-spoken Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has developed a new political phrase and salutation that is gaining popularity with the electorate and audience.
In his new phrase, Nyamita engages the audience to wave bye to Migori Governor Dr. Ochilo Ayacko in 2027. The phrase “Ochilo Ayacko bye” is followed by the audience waving and responding “bye,” and the salutation is concluded with a catchy statement, “dhi dala koso odhi?” (going home or not going home?), prompting laughter from the crowd, who respond, “dhi dala” (going home).
Nyamita may have coined the phrase and salute in his political quest to become the third governor of Migori, but it aptly captures the reality on the ground facing many elected leaders in the country.
The situation has been worsened by the demise of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on whom the majority of elected leaders in the ODM party relied to win their seats.
For most of the current elected leaders, especially in ODM, Raila was their political lifeline, and his death marks their political graveyards.
That is why, with the 2027 general election approaching, the new catchy phrase and salutation are sending cold chills down their spines. Will they suffer the “bye” moment by going home?
When Nyamita rises to speak, he often says:
“Ng’ato wacho ni agero ECDE e ward, agero auchiel. ECDE achiel igero gi Sh500,000. Sh500,000 multiplied by 10 biro Sh5 million kato ipamo. Higa ka higa pesa ma biro e ward en Sh300 million. Ng’ato kwano ni osetiyo kod Sh5 million kende kuom Sh300 million kato ipamo. Ochilo bye. Ochilo Ayacko bye. Dhi dala koso ok dhi? Dhi.”
(Someone has constructed 10 ECDE classrooms, each valued at Sh500,000. In each ward, he builds only 10 of such facilities at a total cost of Sh5 million. Yet every financial year, Sh300 million is budgeted for the ward, and you clap for him. Bye Ochilo. Ochilo Ayacko bye. Going home or not going home? Going home.)
While Ochilo may be facing the pressure and reality of the new phrase and salutation, several ODM governors, MPs, senators, and members of county assemblies could be hearing the sound coming closer to their eardrums.
The panic mode is real, and the audience has finally regained their power to wave bye and send home the lip service providers.
The sound of “bye” and “going home” is now a reality for the elected leaders who depended on Raila for political survival. With the enigma out of the political space, the dice is cast.
This explains why Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo wailed uncontrollably during the memorial service for Raila on Wednesday at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay.
“Mayo ma alewo gi nyathi. Abiro timora nade. Aiko Raila to ode bende aiko owang dala. Mayo ma. Alewo. Baba ne adhi kunyi Bondo to oda bende wang Rangwe. Akunyo wuoi to akunyo ot. Awuoyo kod joka Nyanam. Raila ne ohero joge. Jogo tee mane iwe gi kombe wati uru matek ne jo piny. An awacho ni wabed gimoro achiel, chama wa obed ODM, ot achiel.”
(“Mother, I am stranded with the child. Baba, I went to bury you in Bondo, but my house was burning in Rangwe. I bury you, Baba, and I also bury my house. I appeal to the people of the lake, Raila loved his people. Those of us who hold political offices must work for the electorate. Let us remain united in ODM,” she wailed uncontrollably.)
But back in Rangwe, Nyamita’s phrase and salutation are reverberating in every corner of households in the constituency.
ODM National Chairman and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga is facing a similar challenge after the forced political marriage between her and Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga.
Magwanga and Wanga no longer see eye to eye and are expected to square off politically at the ballot box. Magwanga hails from the populous Great Rachuonyo clan, which boasts 41 percent of the total vote bloc in Homa Bay County, while Wanga comes from Rangwe Constituency, which accounts for 10 percent of the vote bloc.
Wanga faces a daunting task of defending her seat as the storm gathers against her in a county where she was once a darling but is now facing a huge slump.
Already, three sitting MPs from Homa Bay County are considering retiring from politics following the demise of Raila.
Similar scenarios are likely to unfold in Kisumu and Siaya counties, where incumbents face the herculean task of successfully defending their seats.
Acting ODM Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga seems to have oiled the movement by declaring that the party will only award certificates to winners and that there will be no issuance of direct tickets.
Nyanza and several parts of the country may just witness tens of “Bye Movement” casualties in the 2027 general election.
