Anderson Ojwang
Bethuel Oduo
As the Luo community look at their political horizon, a discussion around the community’s fate beyond 2027 becomes inevitable to some observers.
Borrowing a historical remark made Peter Anyumba Chairman Gor Mahia FC in 1973, he said: “As long as Luo Women continue giving birth to boys, Gor Mahia shall never die.” The club had been involved in what some contestants thought was not a free and fair election process. It caused a serious division when some dissatisfied officials and star players left to revive Luo Union FC (later renamed Reunion FC). Anyumba sent emissaries back to ‘Pacho dala’ with instructions to go and recruit talented boys to come and rescue the club. This happened and fresh legs arrived in Nairobi by OTC bus the following day. 52 years later, Gor Mahia FC is today not only a community but juggernaut football club that draws players and fans from across the country.
Anyumba’s assertion can be used to describe the situation the Luo community finds itself today. With 2027 in mind and Raila Odinga is slowly giving away the baton, the debate rages around who the possible successors are.
The post 2027 era presents the Luo community with a unique and a new political precedent that will usher a new socio-economic and political dispensation.
From being a politically active community, the Luo are entering into a new interesting era of socio-economic and political moment that is aimed at transforming the region as the new tiger.
Currently at the apex of the Luo leadership is the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who inherited the throne from his father, the late doyen of opposition politics Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
But currently, the community is developing other two tiers of leadership as it repositions itself for the future.
The first tier is the hands of Raila while the second tier which is driven by the economics and viewed as the community propeller into the future is held by former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju and former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Odhiambo Kidero.
The duo are viewed to hold the community key in championing the new economic dispensation going by their innovative business and leadership acumen.
Tuju and Kidero are the community heart beat to the new economic dispensation and are risk takers and shrewd in investments and business management .
The third tier holds the future leaders who will ultimately lead the community to presidency in the future. They are a group of young and enterprising politicians, who through the mentorship of Raila, Tuju and Kidero, are likely to carry the community expectations into the future.
The third tier is made up of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, PS Dr Ray Omollo, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, MP Babu Owino, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, MP Sam Atandi, Otiende Amollo, Health Permanent Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga, Dr Pamela Odhiambo, and LSK President Faith Odhiambo.
In the tier, present the community with a choice of a possible presidential candidate and possible community leaders both at the county and national levels.
In the second tier remains critical to the community in its phase of the new dispensation and that it is why for Tuju and Kidero with the support of Raila, the community destination rests on their hands.
Tuju and Kidero are smooth and shrewd operators and are capable of anchoring the community to the next economic dispensation of food security, independence, manufacturing and thriving business enterprises.
Tuju and Kidero’s experiences in business and management will propel the community into a new era and could translate into an economic moment for the Luo.
With the possible absence of a Luo presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, the duo focus should now shift to economic emancipation and liberation.
In their wisdom, Tuju and Kidero should mentor the third tier to produce a future presidential candidate to fulfil the community dream.
Dr Raymond Omollo: The Internal Security Permanent Secretary has curved himself a niche as a good administrator and has been effective in his service to President William Ruto.
His Empowerment Initiative has received positive ratings from the community and this has been a game changer. He is quite but very calculative and strategic.
Faith Odhiambo: Within a short time, she has shown her mettle and courage in front of adversity putting the society where it was during the fight for second liberation. Kenyans can’t remember the last time they saw an LSK leader visiting a police station to seek justice for victims until she arrived. The last time it happened was during the Paul Muite era as the Young Turks confronted Moi’s brutality. Other presidents have blown hot and cold whenever courage is required. Faith should be declared ‘Woman of the Year 2025’ in advance.
Governor Gladys Wanga is a good getter, good mobiliser and a risk taker. She has made history as the first female governor from Western Kenya and currently the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National chairperson. Wanga has developed serious political networks in and out of the country that would in future support her political agenda
Babu Owino : The Kisumu Boys alumni is a no walker over in the Kenya’s politics. He is one of the first rising opinion shapers in the country . His election as member of parliament in Nairobi, has given him the national image. He is a good mobiliser and crowd puller.
Otiende Amolo: His record as a sober and astute leader explains itself. If there is a somebody who will inherit the moniker ‘Walking Constitution’ from James Orengo, it is SC Paul Otiende Amolo. His calm demeanor and sober approach to issues even under intense pressure is admirable. This is a politician who is rarely carried away by empty rhetoric, picks his words carefully and doesn’t use village epithets to describe his adversaries. When Otiende speaks he sticks to the facts at hand and rarely follows his opponents to the pigsty a tact that ironically excites political audiences. His inability to confront is sometimes mistaken for weakness in a business that most often than not calls for bare knuckle fights.
John Mbadi: Very good at returning fire with fire as seen during his political campaign rallies. ‘Nyang’ as he is popularly known is a gifted Dholuo speaker, a skill he exploits very well to appeal to his supporters. A master of witty verbal revenge, Mbadi is the kind of leader any political formation would love to have in their corner when waiting for toxic opponents. This attribute places him in the anchor pack when the baton is finally handed over in near future. Dont be mistaken, Mbadi knows how to defend his turf by putting up the face of a career corporate leader as exhibited when dealing with complex official matters as CS Treasury. Mbadi can represent very well in a Bunge la Wananchi debate as much as he can do in a World Bank boardroom in New York. Watch his future as a community kingpin.
Sally Bolo: Gor Mahia FC Vice Chair. The steady rise of this unknown lady calls for a mention amongst women who have a future in the politics of Luo Nyanza. Daughter of a military officer, Sally knows and understands the trenches where grassroot mobilization is required. Where else can one get such experience if not in the Gor Mahia FC ‘Russia stands’ where she graduated from being a loyal fan, fanatic, die-hard supporter to being an official who sits on the board. She has operated in many activities that require only the highly spirited to survive. When it comes to the list of rising women politicians in the Luo Community, she is definitely on that roll no wonder her name is mentioned for Langata Constituency 2027. Sally is the epitome of boldness coupled with lots of street wisdom having been born, bred and brought up in Nairobi.
Prof Pamela Odhiambo: Former Women Rep Migori County. Pamela comes out as a sober minded politician who cannot hurt a fly an attribute that can be negative in Kenya’s political space where at times one must declare “wakirusha tuna Rusha.” A good and eloquent speaker whose role can only be relevant where sobriety is a pre-requisite. Pamela has the advantage of being amongst the few noticeable women leaders in Migori County that can be counted. If she stops playing victim, be her own person and put on her boxing gloves she can go places without waiting to be propped up by unseen forces.
Dr Fred Ouma Oluga: the current PS in the Ministry of Health is an eloquent and confident national leader whose potential is clearly noticeable. His prominence emerged when he handled the KPMDU docket as a fiery unionist, qualities required for Kenyan politics. A stint with Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) saw his hand in the way medical services in ‘Kanjo’ health centers were suddenly improved. As we wait to evaluate his performance in the sensitive ministry, it is evident that Daktari acquitted himself long ago as a bright star who can anchor the forthcoming relay race that is Baba’s succession come 2027 and beyond.
Opiyo Wandayi: He has grown the ranks from Jaramogi Odinga youth leader to being Raila’s trusted lieutenant. He is brave and good orator. Wandayi is seen as one of the first rising leaders from the community and his cabinet appointment is pointer to the growing influence nationally.
Sam Atandi: Atandi is seen as strong willed and a brave leader.. He is a schemer and has the potential to turn himself into the national platform. He is strategic and knows how to play his politics
