Raila’s Backyard on Fire as Siaya Politicians Tear Each Other Over 2022 Seats

Leaders in Siaya county are engaged in an internecine tag of war over how to share political seats in the 2022 General Election.

The clique who represent ODM leader Raila Odinga’s backyard have differed on how the seats should be distributed between the six constituencies in the county, with some advocating for negotiated democracy.

The battle involves Senator James Orengo, Woman Representative Christine Ombaka and MPs Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo) and Samuel Atandi (Alego/ Usonga) among others.

Grassroots officials claimed boardroom agreements (negotiated democracy)have always been biased since the advent of devolution.

Speaking on Saturday at Misori Kaugagi Primary School in Alego/Usonga constituency during the burial of Lawrence Oduol Agane (father of Siaya politician William Oduol), some leaders claimed they had been shortchanged in the past by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) mandarins, who imposed candidates on the electorate.

Alego MP Samwel Atandi set the ball rolling in Kunya where he openly fronted Senator James Orengo for governorship. He said Orengo is one of the heroes of the second liberation and should be rewarded for his efforts in the fight for multipartysm.

“A time has come that we must now reward our heroes with political seats and Orengo deserves a reward,” said Atandi.

Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju denied claims that he is eyeing the Siaya seat. He told mourners that he was eyeing “bigger things” at the national level.“The money that the county receives every year is between Sh6 billion and Sh8 billion. The biggest chunk of this money goes to recurrent expenditure. Only Sh3 billion is left for development. This is not fair for Siaya,” said Tuju.

Orengo, Ochanda and Amollo engaged in a war of words over how Rasanga was picked as the ODM nominee for governorship. Amollo said regarding the 2022 race, the region’s leaders should dialogue on who they should settle on to succeed Rasanga.

Ochanda led a section of revels in expressing ire with the Party saying residents will not accept resolutions made elsewhere and accused ODM party of “killing” Siaya through imposed leadership. Party Executive Secretary Oduor Ong’wen was also present during the burial.

The Bondo MP recounted how in the run up to the 2012 elections, they were “ambushed with an announcement that the party had decided to nominate  the current East African Legislative Assembly member Oburu Oginga as the sole ODM candidate for governorship”.

He vowed he will not be party to talks convened to dish out seats to the various constituencies, and added that in 2022 residents must be allowed to elect leaders of their choice.

“We cannot accept a system that will install a leadership that will perpetuate the plunder of resources meant to develop our county,” said Ochanda.

Ong’wen and Orengo were at pains to defend the party, and assured residents that all will be well in the next general elections.

Orengo said every citizen who qualifies to vie for any seat will be allowed to do so, adding that no political seat will be reserved for any candidate.

“The question of some seats being reserved for candidates from certain regions does not apply. Let every qualified person from any constituency vie for any seat,” Orengo said.

Isn’t it convenient to have Kenya’s latest breaking news at your fingertip? That’s right, at kenyanreport.com (which is an intriguing platform to explore all types of Kenya news); you’ll find good informative blogs and articles on various headlines. As a news-savvy person, you’ll not be disappointed with breaking news, entertainment news, politics and political happening, diaspora news, celebrity trend and many more.

Please follow and like us:

Related