By Anderson Ojwang
Linda Mwananchi leader James Orengo has after 32 years moved to reclaim and actualise the dream of the doyen of opposition, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, as the heir apparent.
In December of 1993 in Ugenya at a function, Jaramogi, in reference to Orengo as the potential heir to the throne, referred to then Ugenya MP as “Nyathi punda” (foal) in a symbolic reference.
In the meeting, Jaramogi was preparing the community for Orengo’s takeover after his exit, and that was why in 1994, before he died, he summoned the fiery MP to his bedside at Kisumu Aga Khan Hospital.
Orengo, who was then in Nairobi, after the summons arrived at Kisumu Airport at 4.00 pm and was driven straight to the hospital.
Upon his entrance, the elated Jaramogi requested the three people who were with him, including his doctor, the late Dr Odhiambo Olel, to give them room to allow them to discuss important matters.
And Jaramogi last breathed in Orengo’s hand.
The 1980s moment
In the 1980s, was a critical political moment in Jaramogi’s life, and he relied heavily on Orengo as his legal and political advisor.
Orengo even tried to register a political party for Jaramogi and the late George Anyona for the 1988 elections, but the Registrar of Political Parties declined the request.
In the absence of the late Raila Amolo Odinga in detention, Orengo became the new ‘son’ to Jaramogi, and that was why he fondly referred to him as a foal.
The Ford
In Jaramogi’s political arrangement, he had envisaged Orengo’s takeover of the party as the apparent heir apparent.
This explained why, at his death, the majority of MPs who were his close allies, including the late Prof Ouma Muga among others, sided with Orengo to defeat Raila in the party election for the post of Vice Chairman.
In the battle over Ford Kenya leadership, Orengo enjoyed the support of MPs, party members, and youths.
In the battle, Orengo and the Chairman, the late Wamalwa Kijana, outwitted Raila, who subsequently resigned from his Langata parliamentary seat to contest on the now-defunct National Development Party (NDP).
In the 1997 general elections, Orengo successfully defended his Ugenya seat against Raila’s wave, which swept nearly all his allies in Ford-K.
The Mageuzi Movement
Orengo formed the Mageuzi Movement as a national outfit and rivalled NDP’s hold on Nyanza politics.
During that moment, Nyanza and Kisumu specifically witnessed political rivalry between Orengo and Raila.
In the 2002 general elections, Orengo contested for the presidency on an SDP ticket, and the Narc wave not only swept him to the sea but also cost him the Ugenya parliamentary seat.
The reunion
The reunion of Raila and Orengo changed the political discourse of the region and the country. Orengo became to Raila what he was to Jaramogi.
Orengo became Raila’s lead counsel and confidant until his death in October last year.
The mantle fight
The death of Raila occasioned a political vacuum in ODM and Nyanza. In a strategic move, a section of the top party officials elevated Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga to the position of party leader.
But the lethargic Oburu soon ran into problems with the Orengo-led faction, Linda Mwananchi.
Orengo declared himself the de facto party leader to the chagrin of Oburu, who dismissed the move.
Orengo has dominated and monopolised his political battles with the Siaya Senator, edging him out to the periphery. Orengo and Oburu first clashed over the ODM ticket for the Siaya senatorial seat.
Currently, Orengo is leading the onslaught against Oburu over the pre-election coalition and the party leadership.
Orengo has managed to isolate Oburu from his close relatives, including Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga and niece Winnie Odinga, over the coalition.
But Oburu’s elevation has not been rosy, with Orengo appearing once again to challenge his leadership. Orengo is currently part of the faction, Linda Mwananchi, which is opposed to the pre-election coalition pact with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Oburu leads the Linda Ground faction, which has been traversing the country but is facing a serious challenge from Orengo, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, and Babu Owino-led Linda Mwananchi, which is gaining momentum.
Oburu also hit out at Orengo for trying to lead the community away from the broad-based government.
No record of struggle
Orengo recently dismissed Oburu as one who has never been at the forefront of political struggle, and that is why Raila became the heir to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
“Oburu has never been on the political front, never tasted teargas, and is not capable of leading ODM,” he said.
He said despite Oburu being born into a political family, he is mostly in the background, and this is why he has been on the periphery.
“Oburu was born in a political family. Most of his father’s life he was in the political background. He never tasted teargas. He has never been inside a police station. It was not by accident that Raila was the true heir.”
The battle for Nyanza
After the death of Raila, Orengo had his eyes on controlling Nyanza politics, and with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, they have destabilised the status quo.
Orengo has constantly rattled Dr Oburu and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga’s hold on Luo leadership with a series of rallies and meet-the-people tours.
The recent successful Linda Mwananchi rally in Kisumu rattled and changed the political status quo and threw Linda Ground into three weeks of planning to hold last week’s rally.
Linda Ground used Sh200 million to mobilise for the rally, while Orengo’s rally was organic, as he continues to receive a warm reception across Nyanza on his tours.
At the recent Kisumu rally, Dr Oburu told the crowd that he was ready to quit as the ODM party leader to avoid dividing the Luo community, to the chagrin and dismay of his allies.
“An ok ahero gima ilaro ma pogo oganda (I don’t like things people fight over that divide the community). An adwaro ni gimora amora ka oponi an ema de apog oganda to ayie weyo (If it’s me who is bringing division to the community, I am ready to quit). Ka pon ni an ema de apog ogandawa to ayie weyo (If it’s me who is the cause of division, then I am ready to quit).”
Orengo also gave conditions for his reconciliation and negotiation with Dr Oburu to avert the party from splitting.
The Cabinet
Orengo’s Siaya cabinet is composed of his allies and has weeded out Oburu’s point persons.
That was the first mantle capture and left Oburu in the political cold in matters of Siaya county governance.
Has Jaramogi’s will finally been met in Orengo’s leadership, or will Oburu stop him?
