By Anderson Ojwang
The absence of Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, the founder secretary general and former acting party leader, at the ODM special delegates conference (SDC) was so telling and sent mixed signals.
If anything, the absence of Nyong’o left the party leader Dr Oburu Oginga a lonely person after Siaya Governor James Orengo led the Linda Mwananchi faction opposed to pre-election coalition arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Nyong’o’s presence would have validated the SDC, the new office, and his absence has left more questions than answers within the ranks and file in the party and nationally.
Instead Nyong’o presided over the unveiling of the Chun Jeong–Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre at Victoria Annex Hospital, Milimani.
He wrote on his social media handles: “The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step, and we took that bold step today with the desire to transform healthcare in Kisumu by unveiling the Chun Jeong–Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre at Victoria Annex Hospital, Milimani.
I had the honor of presiding over this historic occasion alongside Mr. Peter Chun, Chairman and President of the World Smart Cities Forum, and Mama Kisumu, Dorothy Nyong’o – Managing Trustee of the African Cancer Foundation, in the company of other distinguished guests.
For far too long, cancer has placed a heavy burden on our families and communities. Today, we begin to rewrite that story. This Centre is more than a facility. It is a bold symbol of hope, reaffirming our commitment to confront cancer with courage, innovation, and compassion for all.
Through our partnership with Mr. Peter Chun, the National Government and other partners, we are turning vision into reality by establishing two centres: a public facility at JOOTRH to ensure universal access and this advanced centre to position Kisumu as a regional hub for specialized cancer care.
Also present were County Secretary Hesbon Hongo, CECMs Dr. Greg Ganda (Public Health), George Okong’o (Finance), Judith Oluoch (Environment), City Manager Abala Wanga, County Attorney Otieno Aluoka and other distinguished leaders.”
It is Nyong’o who headhunted the embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna after then SG Ababu Namwamba resigned.
Sifuna, with other members of his faction, was at Ufungamano House holding the People’s National Delegates Conference, putting the Governor in a fix.
Sifuna declared that he could not be a secretary general to Dr Oburu and instead asked him to look for his own secretary general.
“Oburu, look for your SG. I cannot be Oburu’s SG. I want to say this before God and the nation. I will not be the SG of mediocrity after serving Raila Amolo Odinga. You characters do not deserve me,” he said.
Nyong’o in his previous speeches explained how Sifuna rose to become the party secretary general.
He spotted Sifuna’s talents through his newspaper contributions and decided to tap his knowledge and potential for the ODM party.
Nyong’o decided to invite Sifuna for a lunch meeting to evaluate his competence and whether he fitted the bill.
Nyong’o was convinced and humbled in his first interaction, and that marked the beginning of a new secretary general for the party.
“Before I say much, I want to deal with a few matters arising from what has been spoken here. Are we together?
First, is the issue of Edwin Sifuna. I think none of you knows how Edwin Sifuna came into ODM.
Edwin used to write for the Standard Newspaper, very good articles. And after serving for 12 years as secretary general of ODM, I asked the party leader to allow me to concentrate on developing the research wing of the party and give the technocracy to another secretary general.
We tried a few people; it never worked. So one day, I said to myself, that young man, who writes so well in the Standard. Let me call him and have lunch with him at United Kenya Club. I met Sifuna and I was very impressed. So I went and talked to the party leader and he agreed to have him on board,” he said in a previous speech.
He said Sifuna never failed him and he has performed exemplary well as the spokesperson of the party.
“We read the interview Sifuna had at Kenya Times, where he made it very clear, being the secretary general and the spokesperson of the party, he clarified every issue and since then, we have not seen any writing about Sifuna in the newspaper at all,” he said.
Nyong’o defended Sifuna from his critics, saying he was professional in his work, and wondered about the contributions of his critics, then.
“Sasa wewe ni nani. Sasa wewe unaanza leo kupinga Sifuna wewe ni nani? (Who are you who have started to criticize Sifuna? Who are you?) We in the party sought Sifuna from his professional work to bring him into the party.
He has been doing an excellent job since then. Let us support him, we in the party and the people, let us support him.
The guy is built for the future. You know what I mean. Ukiangalia mbele, utaona Sifuna. If you don’t know what I am saying, go home and think,” he said then.
In a twist of events, the ODM invited Ababu to the convention, with Oburu saying the party will not expel any member but will sack those officials disrupting the party’s unity.
