What began as a family’s painful loss became a contest of compassion as rival politicians turned grief into a stage

By James Okoth

The afternoon sun hung low over Kanyakwar village on Sunday, casting a golden shimmer on the still water pooled inside an abandoned quarry. The site, long deserted by miners, had become a familiar playground for children from the neighbourhood, especially the four brothers of the Otieno family.

That day, like many others, the boys, aged between eight and fifteen, left their home after lunch carrying plastic containers. According to their father, they had gone to fetch water and play nearby before returning for evening chores. As twilight approached and the boys did not return, worry crept into the homestead.

Moments later, screams tore through the calm. Villagers who went searching discovered the children’s clothes and slippers scattered at the quarry’s edge. Beneath the murky water, tragedy had struck. All four brothers had drowned.

News of the deaths spread quickly across Kanyakwar and beyond. Neighbours gathered in disbelief as rescuers pulled the bodies out one by one. The father, inconsolable, watched as his children, his only sons, lay lifeless, victims of a danger that had silently existed in their midst for years.

“It is a pain no parent should ever know,” said a relative. “They were full of life, always together.”

The quarry, like many others across Kisumu County, was once active with trucks and stonecutters. When operations ceased, it was left unprotected and filled with rainwater, turning into a deep, deceptive pond.

As the family struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, politics came calling. Two Kisumu gubernatorial hopefuls, through their representatives, separately arrived at the home, each eager to demonstrate sympathy.

Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron and Kisumu Senator Professor Tom Ojienda each ordered the purchase of four coffins for the deceased boys, complete with camera crews and supporters documenting the gesture.

Within hours, social media was flooded with photos and videos of the donations, each camp presenting its act as compassion and leadership.

“In support, my team handed over receipts for the purchase of four coffins and provided foodstuffs to assist the family as they prepare for the burial. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this painful time,” read part of a statement shared by Dr Oron on social media.

“In a heartfelt show of compassion, the Professor provided foodstuffs to support the family as they received mourners during this painful period. He also took responsibility for the burial arrangements by providing four coffins,” said an official from Senator Ojienda’s team.

The grieving family now faces an unusual and painful dilemma: eight coffins bought in their name before any formal burial arrangements were agreed upon.

“What are we supposed to do with eight coffins?” a family elder asked quietly. “This has gone beyond mourning and has become a show.”

The incident has reignited debate about political tokenism, where tragedy becomes a stage and grief is used to score points. Instead of comfort, the family finds itself caught in a cultural and moral dilemma.

Following the tragedy, Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o ordered an immediate suspension of all mining and quarry activities across Kisumu County. He directed the Department of Environment, together with NEMA, to audit all excavation sites for safety compliance.

“These sites have become death traps,” Nyong’o said. “We must act to protect our children and communities.”

As night falls once again over Kanyakwar, the Otieno homestead remains silent. The laughter that once filled the compound is gone, replaced by stacked coffins and mourners divided by political ambition.

The quarry stands as a reminder of neglect, but the events that followed have exposed another loss: the erosion of compassion, where even death becomes an opportunity for political display.

By Alphonce Otieno

What Hon. Raphael Tuju’s Story Tells Us About Our Politics:

In Kenyan politics, development is often praised in speeches but punished at the ballot box. Few stories show this painful contradiction better than that of Hon. Raphael Tuju.

When Tuju entered active politics, he did not do so for fame or personal wealth. By his own account, his goal was straightforward: to help his community escape poverty and to put in place real foundations for development. For a brief moment, it seemed that this kind of politics—focused on results rather than slogans—might succeed.

In just three years, the impact of his leadership was visible. The Ndori–Luanda Kotieno Road was tarmacked, improving transport and opening the area to trade and investment. Health services were strengthened through the construction and upgrading of hospitals, and a mobile clinic was introduced in Rarieda to reach remote and vulnerable communities. Schools were built, students received sponsorships, and access to clean water expanded. These were not promises. They were completed projects that touched daily life.

Yet, in a bitter twist, these achievements did not translate into political support.

Instead of being rewarded, Tuju faced hostility. He was branded a traitor by sections of the community he sought to serve. Political tensions escalated to dangerous levels. There were threats to burn his home. His supporters were targeted. His cousin was left permanently disabled due to political violence. His late mother lived in fear and could not freely travel to Ndori Centre for more than a decade. At one point, protesters walked all the way from Uyoma to Ndori, a disturbing sign of how deeply political intolerance had taken root.

“This is the tragedy of our politics,” one observer remarked. “We punish results and reward slogans.”

Many political analysts argue that under genuinely free and fair conditions—without external political direction—Raphael Tuju would have won decisively. His development record, administrative ability, and strong national and international networks set him apart from his competitors. As one local opinion leader put it, “Tuju did not fail because of poor performance. He failed because he lacked political protection in a system where party loyalty matters more than service.”

This experience is not unique. It reflects a broader pattern, particularly within Luo politics, where party allegiance has often been placed above development outcomes. Time and again, leaders with the ability to cooperate across political lines, attract investment, and deliver tangible progress have been rejected for failing to conform to dominant political loyalties.

The cost of this approach has been high. Communities are left with poor infrastructure, limited economic opportunities, and broken public services—not because capable leaders were unavailable, but because they were politically unacceptable.

An elder once summed it up quietly but powerfully: “We chose the party over the road, the slogan over the hospital. And in doing so, we chose poverty over development.”

Tuju’s story is therefore larger than one man’s political loss. It is a mirror held up to society. It forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: that progress can be rejected when it does not align with prevailing political expectations. It shows how service and sacrifice do not always earn acceptance, and how visionary leaders can be pushed aside even when they deliver real change.

This is not an argument against political parties. Parties are a vital part of democracy. But when party loyalty becomes more important than roads, schools, water, and healthcare, politics loses its moral purpose. It stops serving people and starts serving itself.

In the end, Raphael Tuju’s legacy leaves us with a simple but difficult question: when a leader delivers tangible development that improves lives, should party politics matter more than those results? Until voters are willing to reward performance over slogans, the tragedy of service will continue—and communities will keep paying the price.

In that sense, Tuju’s story is not just about the past. It is a warning about the future of our politics, and a challenge to choose leadership over loyalty, and people over politics.

By Anderson Ojwang

In what could be described as his final engagement with the ODM parliamentary group, the late Raila Amolo Odinga left behind a powerful message that is now shaking the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Addressing legislators and party officials, Raila, in his characteristic tone, cautioned against premature political commitments, saying:
“Look at what we have signed, and we must remain as ODM. We signed and agreed that we will work together up to 2027. We have not passed any resolution as a party to say how we are going to the elections in 2027.
So wherever you are, don’t commit the party to things which have not been discussed. Let those things be discussed first. We are ODM. Who told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027? Who has told you? First think like ODM. Other decisions we will take when the time comes.”

The statement has since split ODM down the middle. Raila’s elder brother and current party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has declared that ODM will not field a presidential candidate in 2027. However, another faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo insists that the party must present a candidate, arguing that it was Raila’s final wish.

Oburu now finds himself in a dilemma: whether to retrace his steps and implement Raila’s last directive or chart a completely new course for the party.

In a move seen as an attempt to assert authority, Dr Oburu has convened a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting is expected to deliberate on disciplinary action against three officials accused of defying the party leader’s position on a pre-election coalition.

Those facing possible disciplinary measures include Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Geoffrey Osotsi, and Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga. The trio has openly criticised the proposed pre-election pact between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who attended the meeting with Raila, said the late ODM leader had only authorised Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi to publicly support Ruto’s two-term agenda.

“Raila told us not to say ‘two term’. Any MP who wanted to contradict that was warned. Only Alego MP Sam Atandi requested permission because of his role as Budget Committee chair,” Omondi said.

Despite this, Oburu has maintained that ODM will only negotiate from a position of strength. In a past TV interview, he said:
“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two — the Deputy President. That is my take.”

He added that ODM’s immediate focus is rebuilding and strengthening its grassroots base before entering negotiations.
“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party,” he said.

However, during a recent event in Kisumu attended by President Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, Oburu appeared to soften his stance, stating that ODM was not eyeing the deputy president’s seat.

“Deputy President, do not think we want your seat. We are friends. As we negotiate, we will negotiate what our people and our party deserve,” he said, insisting that ODM remains a national party.

Oburu further said he would personally lead ODM through negotiations, promising to deliver more benefits to party supporters.
“When you follow flies, they take you to the pit latrine. When you follow bees, they take you to honey,” he remarked.

He cited Cabinet appointments and parliamentary positions secured by ODM leaders as evidence of gains already made through engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Meanwhile, Sifuna has stood firm, insisting that Raila was categorical that ODM would field a presidential candidate — a position he maintains was Raila’s final wish.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has moved to crack the whip in the party by inviting the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for this Wednesday.

The meeting is expected to hand in disciplinary measures on three “rebel” officials who read from a different script from the party leader on the pre-election coalition.

Oburu and his faction are expected to crack the whip on the party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Geoffrey Osotsi, and Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga.

The trio have been critical of the proposed pre-election pact between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President William Ruto.

Sources told Western Insight that the faction, stung by the successful Busia Linda Wananchi rally, urgently convened a high-voltage meeting in Nairobi, which sealed the fate of the trio.

Sources told Western Insight that Oburu’s team was sent into panic mode and resolved that it was time to kick out the trio to avoid losing the party leadership to Sifuna’s team.

Attempts to talk to Oburu were unsuccessful as his calls went unanswered, while ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale could not be reached.

Yesterday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi called for the sacking of Sifuna for disrespecting Oburu’s leadership status, saying they were fully behind the pre-election coalition with President Ruto.

The move comes hot on the heels of last week’s explosive interview on Citizen TV with Sifuna, who revealed that Linda Ground activities by Oburu’s team were receiving parallel funding and not from the party coffers.

He also said Oburu and a section of party officials were still serving on an interim basis, a position Oburu vehemently denied in a press statement.

In a recent interview, Sifuna said the Kilifi Central Management Committee ratified that the party engages in coalition talks with various political formations in the country.

“The resolution of the Kilifi meeting is clear and specific. It said the party to embark on coalition formation with other political formation in the country. There is nowhere it talked about UDA as the only formation. We expect to engage all the political formations in the country with a view of a possible alliance” he said.

Sifuna said ODM, as one of the oldest parties in the country, was prepared to present a presidential candidate and quoted the late Raila Odinga saying “who told you ODM will not have a presidential candidate in 2027”.

He also maintained that Dr Oburu and his team were still on an interim basis and would have to be ratified by the National Delegates Conference.

In a press statement, Oburu said they were substantively in office and dismissed Sifuna’s claims that they were interim party officials.

Oburu wrote, “We want to state categorically that all party officials are serving substantively and are supported by the party organs’ resolutions. However, the interview also contained assertions that misled the public regarding the legitimacy of certain party organs and office holders. ODM has, since its inception, demonstrated fidelity to its constitution and to the rule of law. The same principle has put every individual in their rightful positions, including that of Senator Sifuna.”

Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagement did not come from the party.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground do not come from ODM headquarters. For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts, and Timothy Bosire is also a signatory. The last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebration in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what you saw there,” he said.

Sifuna said there was parallel funding of political activities in the party and that they did not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact, there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours, and they go around saying they are ODM delegates. The Linda Ground activities are not financed from the ODM coffers and headquarters. There is no money that I executed a cheque for those activities.”

Ruth also questioned the millions of shillings currently being used by the party to hire choppers, tents, and pay delegates while the party was owed Sh12 billion by the government.

The Linda Wananchi had a successful rally in Busia, where they vowed to derail any coalition talks with President Ruto. In this camp are battle-hardened leaders led by Kenya’s longest-serving political activist, Siaya Governor James Orengo, alongside new entrants MP Babu Owino, Sifuna, Osotsi, among others.