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.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Church in Kenya is on the spot over what can be termed as the brown envelope capture by the political class to articulate their agenda.

For decades, the political class have exploited the power of brown envelope donations to the Church, using the pulpit to propagate their agenda.

But some churches, such as the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Kenya, have stood their ground by either politely returning the donations or banning politicians from the pulpit.

With 18 months to the general elections, the Church has once again become a soft political landing for both the opposition and the government.

The political class begin their functions by attending church services before proceeding to rallies, and this has compromised the Church’s stand on some of the issues affecting the country.

Former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju, on Friday at a funeral in Mt Kenya, said the Church has fallen victim to political manipulation through brown envelope donations.

“I want to request you that the problem of this country begins with the church. Sisi uko ndiyo sisi upeleka harambe tukianza (it is where we fundraise to begin our programmes). All these politicians, if you ask them, where can we meet people? They say church.
We normally go to church to give money and then you can take us this direction and that direction. I challenge you to talk to other bishops wherever they are, because I thought it is the same Jesus Christ we are following,” he said.

Tuju challenged the Church to rise above political manipulation and help in healing the nation.

“As church leaders, I would like to challenge you, please talk to other church leaders across the country on how we can heal this land,” he said.

Tuju said he was a victim of the 2007 post-election violence for supporting President Mwai Kibaki and witnessed far-reaching consequences.

“I can say that with authority because I was a victim of post-election violence in 2007. I was the only person in my region who was supporting President Mwai Kibaki, and they went and attacked my cousin, and until today he has no arm. He is a high school headmaster and he does not have an arm just because he was associated with PNU at that time and associated with me as Raphael Tuju.
I never talk about these things. From 2007 to 2018, my late mother could not go to the market because she was a mother to a betrayer who supported Kibaki when everybody else was following Raila Odinga.
It was only in 2018 that my mother was able to go to the market because Raila had a handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta.
What I am telling you is that if this country descends into chaos, nobody is safe,” he said.

Two ACK bishops, Rev Charles Onginjo and Prof David Kodia, termed the situation as unfortunate and worrying.

“The Church aligns itself to what is popular. A mistake made in one corner should not be used as a blanket to condemn the Church wholly. The Catholic Church has rejected political donations, while the Anglican Church has banned politics in the Church,” Bishop Onginjo said.

He said the Church is vulnerable because most churches depend on fundraising drives to survive, and this is a weakness the political class are exploiting.

Bishop Onginjo said that before the advent of multipartyism, the Church was the sole voice, but with multipartyism the space has been occupied by other players.

“The situation and circumstances have changed and put us in the position we are in currently. Politicians are using the Church wrongly. We must inject hygiene into our politics. What are we showing the younger generation? Some are losing faith in the Church,” he said.

Prof Kodia said the Church cannot isolate itself from politicians because politicians find their roots in the Church.

“My position is that when you are given an opportunity to greet people, it is not an opportunity to engage in politics,” he said.

Prof Kodia condemned the brown envelope fixation in the Church, which negates its actual calling and service.

“Do not receive such donations. I turned down Sh3 million, which was to be put into our account in the last general election. Money should not be used to silence the Church,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that some church leaders take brown envelopes without disclosing them to the congregation and use the money for personal gain.

“Some church leaders take the envelope and do not disclose it to the Church and keep it for themselves. Love for money is a big problem. For some, the Church is a source and conduit for enrichment,” he said.

They said the Church must stand up to unite the country and discard the lust for brown envelopes.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has moved to distance itself from the activities of the self-claimed adopted son of the late Raila Odinga, Oketch Salah, terming them personal.

Smarting from last evening’s Linda Comrade event in Nairobi and left with egg on its face, ODM has moved to save face by distancing itself from Salah’s activities.

ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga clarified that any activities, statements or engagements undertaken by Oketch Salah are carried out strictly in his personal capacity and do not represent or bind the party in any way.

Interestingly, Oketch Salah has been conducting the activities in the company of Jaoko Oburu, the second-born son of the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga. Jaoko was present at the Linda Comrade event.

“All official ODM activities, programmes and engagements are channelled through the party secretariat and are undertaken with the approval and guidance of the party leadership headed by Dr Oburu Odinga,” she wrote.

Yesterday, the Linda Comrade event hosted by Salah and Jaoko at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) ended prematurely after the crowd demanded allowances, forcing the convenors to sneak out of the venue.

Enraged youths burnt party T-shirts and accused Oketch of destroying the party and Raila’s legacy.

“Oketch Salah is destroying the party. What he is doing is not in line with the party ideology and we will not allow him to destroy Raila’s legacy,” said a group of youths.

In a recent interview, Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, said Oketch was a stranger and should either be taken to Mathari or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for interrogation.

“I have met Oketch Salah but I would like to believe nobody really knows him. I also feel sad for him. My father died and that was a traumatic experience for me.
At least he died with somebody he knew loved him. And people need to take care of their loved ones.
When you leave here and take Thika Road, you have two options: you either turn right as if you are going to Mathari or to the DCI because a flat lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death when you were not, and talking about things that did not occur, is quite dangerous and makes me question a lot of things. What would be those intentions?
He should be rushed to either Mathari or the DCI with immediate effect,” she said.

Oketch recently claimed on his social media platforms that he is Raila’s adopted son and that he was with him at his deathbed and when he first fell ill.

Even after Winnie disowned Salah, Jaoko Oburu has been criss-crossing the country with Salah meeting ODM delegates. Jaoko went ahead to recognise Salah and even called him “Let me call him Oketch Salah Odinga.”

Last week, speaking in South Rift, Oketch Salah said he was financially prepared to buy out delegates to support the election of Oburu as the party leader at the National Delegates Conference (NDC).

“It is our request to allow Dr Oburu to begin discussions with President William Ruto on the pre-election coalition pact. Do you agree and accept that Dr Oburu, as the party leader, should begin the talks?
When we go to the National Delegates Conference (NDC), all the delegates who are here, if anyone tries to bribe you, just know we have the money. If they try to bribe you, don’t agree. We have the money. Do not be bribed by anyone. If anyone wants to bribe you so that you vote against Dr Oburu, come to me and ask me for money,” he said.

Recently, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Adhiambo Odinga decried the presence of huge amounts of money in the ODM party, saying it was negating its basic principles and operations.

Ruth wondered where the huge amounts of money currently being used by the party were coming from.

“But we are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate approach to commit the ODM party into a coalition agreement more than a year before the next general election.
Where is the money coming from? Is it in the Budget and Appropriations Committee at the National Assembly? I know that the government has not given ODM party money. So where is all the money coming from?” she asked.

Wanga said the party remains committed to order, discipline and structured engagement in the pursuit of its objectives.

By Remmy Butia

The political landscape of Nandi County has been jolted by a seismic announcement. The planned return of its first Governor, Dr Cleophas Lagat, alias Chematel, to the race for the county’s top seat in 2027 is sending palpable chills across political circles and forcing a frantic recalculation among declared aspirants. After his defeat in 2017 by the incumbent, Governor Stephen Sang, Lagat’s re-entry is not just a candidacy; it is a powerful narrative threatening to upend established succession plans.

Lagat, who steered the county from its inception in 2013, carries the complex legacy of a pioneer. While his tenure is often critiqued for tangible development shortfalls, it is concurrently viewed with a significant degree of nostalgic sympathy and understanding. Analysts and voters alike acknowledge that, as the first governor, his primary task was the herculean effort of establishing the devolved system from scratch—setting up structures, systems, and the very architecture of county governance. For many, this foundational role, coupled with his perceived personal humility and connection to the people, has cemented a reservoir of goodwill that transcends a mere scorecard of projects.

It is precisely this reservoir that now makes him a formidable threat, particularly in the vote-rich Mosop Sub-County. His declaration explodes an already crowded and competitive field from this expansive region. The race to succeed Sang had prominently featured two powerful women from Mosop: the current Nandi Woman Representative, Cynthia Muge (Kipkaren Ward), and the sitting Deputy Governor, Dr Yulita Cheruiyot (Ndalat Ward), who is serving her second term as Sang’s deputy. Both had been positioning themselves as natural heirs, with Yulita banking on executive experience and continuity, and Muge leveraging her national platform and legislative record.

Enter Cleophas Lagat, hailing from Kurgung/Surungai Ward, who now dramatically splits the Mosop vote three ways. His candidacy directly complicates the arithmetic for Cynthia and Yulita, as he is likely to siphon off a substantial portion of the sub-county’s support base, potentially creating a stalemate that could benefit a candidate from another region. The fear among his Mosop rivals is acute: the “son of the soil” factor is now dangerously diluted.

Beyond geography, Lagat’s return frames the 2027 election as a historic referendum: the Foundational Administrator versus the Development Inheritors. His campaign is expected to pivot on the narrative of a seasoned father figure returning to “complete the work” he started, with the promise that, free from the initial burdens of institution-building, he can now focus on delivery. This message could resonate with voters who feel the county’s potential remains untapped.

For other aspirants from sub-counties like Chesumei, Nandi Hills and Tinderet, Lagat’s entry is a double-edged sword. While it weakens the collective front from Mosop, it also introduces a wildcard with high name recognition and a proven, though dated, voter base. The 2017 defeat is being reframed by Lagat’s strategists not as a rejection, but as a temporary setback—a narrative they believe can galvanise a comeback.

As the dust settles on the announcement, the chill in Nandi politics is real. Strategies are being rewritten, alliances reconsidered, and attack lines redrawn. Dr Cleophas Lagat has not just entered the race; he has fundamentally altered its chemistry and dynamics. The 2027 gubernatorial contest is no longer a simple succession battle; it is shaping up to be an epic clash of legacies, regions, and political resurrection, with the county’s pioneer determined to reclaim his crown. The scramble for Nandi has just begun, and it is colder and more unpredictable than anyone anticipated.