By Anderson Ojwang
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr Oburu Oginga has cautioned a section of leaders from the Luo community who are hell-bent on having government officers from the region sacked.
Oburu told the leaders from the community to shut up over the scheme as it was not for the benefit of the community.
“I am addressing the issue by some people demanding the sacking of our people in the government to shut up. If they are sacked, will you get a replacement from here? If you won’t, why should you demand?” he said.
Oburu, who spoke at Nyanza Golf Club on Friday night, expressed concern over the negative energy of a section of leaders who have been demanding the sacking of government officers from the region.
“How do you want these officers sacked? Do you even know how they were appointed to the posts? If they are sacked, will the community get those posts again?” he said.
Oburu said it was important to rally support for those in government as they represent the interests of the community and should not be undermined.
Oburu also expressed his confidence in the Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo and said he will continue to work with him.
In the formation of the broad-based government, Dr Oburu negotiated for the cabinet and permanent secretaries slots for ODM.
In the recent past, a section of some community leaders have been calling for the sacking of Omollo as the Permanent Secretary, with allegations that some leaders from Homa Bay County recently met to plot to pressure President William Ruto to sack him or transfer him to a different portfolio.
But Homa Bay MP Opondo Kaluma, in a recent TV interview, denied any plot by the leadership of Homa Bay to demand his sacking.
“PS Omollo is our son. He comes from Homa Bay, and we love him so much. At no time have we sat down in private or public to discuss his sacking. He is doing a great job, and if you want to hurt us as people of Homa Bay, try to sack him. Those are cheap propaganda,” he said.
Last year, Kaluma dismissed claims that ODM wanted Omollo sacked from his post.
“This is fake, baseless propaganda. The ODM party has no problem with Dr. Raymond Omollo. Dr. Omollo is a gallant son of Kenya from the great Homa Bay County. We love him. Whoever is imagining evil against him does not mean well for ODM, the broad-based government and Kenya,” Kaluma wrote on his social media handle.
Kaluma was then reacting to claims by former police spokesperson Charles Owino that some ODM members were scheming to get Omollo sacked.
According to Owino, ODM members had initiated the plot due to the power and influence surrounding the position of the Interior PS, which they believe should be filled by one of their own, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between their party and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). “What is happening in Homa Bay is a fear of the unknown. I don’t want to take sides in the ongoing UDA and ODM factions, but there is a significant plan to have the PS removed from his position before the 2027 elections,” Owino claimed.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Omollo have had a cat-and-mouse relationship and have been feuding over the national government projects in the county. While Omollo is credited for spearheading the projects, Wanga also claims to have lobbied President William Ruto for the projects.
The feud forced Hesbon Omollo, Raymond’s elder brother, to relinquish his political ambition for the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat to thaw a plot by a section of MPs who were pushing for the PS’s removal.
Currently, there were allegations that a section of Homa Bay MPs allegedly asked President Ruto to transfer Omollo to a lesser position or to sack him altogether.
This was viewed as a continuing fight between Omollo and Wanga after last year’s demonstrations against the Homa Bay governor for allegedly fighting the permanent secretary. The demonstrations were witnessed in Kisumu, Siaya and Migori counties and parts of Nairobi.
