By Anderson Ojwang
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has appealed to the Luo community to reciprocate the 2007 overwhelming support by the Kalenjin community for the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
Omollo said the Kalenjin community, through their leader President William Ruto, supported Raila’s candidature and his eventual assumption of office as Prime Minister.
“In 2007, for the first time Raila contested for the presidency on an ODM ticket, our neighbours and cousins, the Kalenjin, overwhelmingly supported and voted for him,” he said.
Omollo said that while other communities demanded Raila sign memoranda of understanding before supporting his candidature, the Kalenjin did not.
“When he went to other communities, they demanded Raila sign MOUs on the sharing of government positions. This is what other communities put him through.
But in his meeting with the Kalenjin community in Nairobi, they told him they would not sign any MOU.
You are our brother and our son. We will support you without any condition. Those who were there would tell you Raila shed tears,” he said.
Omollo said the Luo community should reciprocate the goodwill extended to Raila by the Kalenjin community.
“I want to speak to our people, the Luo community. It would be the worst betrayal if our brother, who has lived well with us, is put through unnecessary procedures,” he said.
Currently, President Ruto has been mandated by his UDA party to engage in a pre-election pact with ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga.
The ODM Central Committee meeting in Kilifi mandated Oburu to engage in coalition talks with various political formations.
Oburu has declared that ODM will enter into a pre-election coalition pact with President Ruto and support his second term.
Oburu recently declared before President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the Deputy President’s seat.
Oburu said, “Deputy President, do not think we want your seat or that we want to chase you away. No.
Please, you are our friend, but as we negotiate, we are going to negotiate what our people deserve and what our party deserves. ODM is not a Luo party; it is a national party. We will negotiate fairly. We are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share,” he said.
Oburu said he would lead ODM during the negotiations and promised to lead the party to Canaan through Singapore.
“I am leading ODM. When you follow flies, they will take you to a pit latrine, and when you follow bees, you will get honey.
We are in talks with UDA. We are going to make sure that we have more than what we currently have.
You can already see that we have managed to secure these good ministries for you. We have Energy, headed by Opiyo Wandayi, and Finance, which is the heart of government, led by John Mbadi. Even Alego MP Sam Atandi is the Chairman of the Budget Committee,” he said.
Oburu said President Ruto has undertaken several transformative projects in the region, which must be lauded.
“We will start talking with UDA. Some people are saying we are in a hurry. We are not in a hurry. The election is next year, and we must prepare in advance.
I want to tell you that I will take you to Canaan through Singapore. Singapore is these programmes we have launched today. We are giving money to the people,” he said.
