MASSIVE DISCONTENT AT LUO PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANTS FORUM.

  BY SHEM KOSSE
 
  As the politicial fever ahead of next year's general elections begins to grip
politicians across the country,Luo Nyanza is already said to be in frenzy as
aspirants compete to outdo each other, all squarely eying the support of their
de-facto kingmaker, Raila Amolo Odinga.
 
  Matters took a dramatic turn last week when the chairman of Luo Council of
Elders Ker Riaga Ogallo called what was dubbed as a crucial meeting for Luo
leaders and elite at Methodist Guest House Nairobi sending cold shivers down the spine of a cross section of incumbent MPs, majority of who were not invited.
 
  We have reliably established that a number of MPs sent their side kicks who
gate- crashed the function to monitor and report back through cellphone as
events continued to unfold.  At the parking bay, one would have been mistaken to assume it was a cabinet meeting as big cars drove in some with glittering latest models and the list of those who attended the meeting reads like who-is-who in Luo Nyanza.
 
  Investigation by this journalist revealed that apart from LDP de -facto leader
Raila Odinga and MPs Sammy Weya, Ayiecho Olweny, Zadock Syongo and Erick Nyamunga,the rest of the MPs were never invited for reasons that we could not establish,immediately.
 
  The meeting attended by over 300 parliamentary hopefuls, chaired by Ogallo
,turned stormy at one point when word went around that Ogallo was not actually the convener and that two parlimentary aspirants Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Karoli Omondi (Gwasi) had hijacked the function for their own political ends.
 
  The climax of the meeting was however a brief address by Raila who vowed to keep off parliamentary nominations and promised a free and fair race, saying he would never impose any candidate on the electorate, which,many watchers of Luo Nyanza politics say is easier said than done.
 
   What is never said openly but tacitly is that Raila's nod, just as it was with his father Jaramogo Oginga Odinga is always crucial in any general election.  He however warned sitting MPs to accept competitions once elections whistle is blown.
 
  He categorically denied claims that he has been favouring some MPs and warned those who have been invoking his name for political favours to be prepared for stiff opposition during the party parlimentary nominations.
 
  Before Raila's arrival, Weya, Syongo and Ayiecho, had asked the electorate to give the incumbent MPs, who are serving for the first term,another chance to
enable them qualify for pension, a request that was shot down by the aspirants.
 
   Their argument that they were best placed to campaign for Raila at the national level as opposed to the aspirants whom they described as political
newcomers who are inexperinced at national politics, met stiff opposition from
the aspirants who demanded a level playing ground for all players.
 
  Also discussed at length was Raila's presidential bid.It was unanimously
agreed that there is need to raise funds to boost Raila's chances of winning
ODM-K presidential nominations.
 
   Although, it was agreed that a follow up meeting be convened to work on the
logistics. Aspirants interviewed were of the opinion that a small commitee in
charge of fundraising be formed.
 
  Several names of those to form the commitee comprising of the sitting MP's,
aspirants, professionals and businessmen proposed to raise funds for Raila's
presidential kitty, include that of Eng. Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) Mombasa
businessman Polycap Ocholla, Eng. James Rege (Karachuonyo), Dr Antony Were (Kasipul- Kabondo) Kisumu businessman Ochieng Daima (Nyakach) Ndhiwa MP (Orwa Ojode), Philip Okundi (Rangwe) and Eng opon Nyamunga (Nyando ) Bernard Omondi (Uriru) Prof. Larry Gumbe of ODM-K secretariat among others.
 
  During the meeting, Raila was warned to be wary of politicians scheming to
fight his lieutenants claiming they are allied to some rival political parties.
 
   Aspirants however agreed to hold peaceful campaign rallies and to avoid
mudslinging politics and were warned by Ker Ogallo to respect and support the
MP's until the end of their parliamentary terms.
 
  Also warned, are aspirants and MP's who are known to be invoking Raila's name to win sympathy from the electorate.
 
   A number of MP's known to be members of Raila's kitchen cabinet are this time around in for a shock of their political life as their opponent are making
inroad in their political turf.
 
  Some of the marked MP's include Otieno Kajwang'( Mbita) Adhu Awiti who is said to be facing stiff challeges from former PS James Rege, Ocholla Ogur (Nyatike),  Ken Nyagudi (Kisumu town West) Gor Sungu (Kisumu Town East) Peter Odoyo (Nyakach ) Odhiambo Omamba (Uriri) and Paddy Ahenda (Kasipul-Kabondo).
 
  Some of the MP's who are known to be independent- minded, hardworking,
accountable and have also delivered both at the contituency and national level
include Philip Okundi (Rangwe) Anyang Nyongo (Kisumu Rural) and Orwa Ojode (Ndhiwa).
 
  Back to the methodist Guest house meeting:A number of aspirants who had the opportunity to give a speech vowed to supporte Raila's presidential bid but
demanded that party nomination be conducted by persons with intergrity unlike
the 2002 LDP nominations, headed by former East African legislative Assembly, MP Ochieng Mbeo, where there were claims of rigging.
 
  Such claims were in Rarieda where Moses Owiti was allegedly rigged out in
favour of Raphel Tuju who has since fallen out with LDP.  The current political
scenario in Rarieda is tense with Owiti, Lawyer Otiende Amolo and Eng. Nicholas Gumbo burning mid night oil to win party nominations.
 
  Those who have been clsely monitoring Rarieda politics reported that whereas
Otiende Amolo is being considered as politically immature,Gumbo is said to have run out of steam as Owiti is said to be a front runner for the seat.
 
  Among those in artendance included Kisumu Town West Parlimentary aspirants Olga Olago Aluoch,Lawyer Onyango Oloo (Kisumu Town East) Lawyer Kopot(Gem), Bob Owiti (Uriri) and Jane Akeyo (Rongo).
 
  They all called for free and fair nominations and vowed to support Raila's
presidential bid.  Others who attended the meeting included Moses Owiti
(Rarieda), Lameck Siaga(Embakasi), George Yogo (Gwasi) and James Onyango K'Oyoo (Muhoroni) among others.
 
  Former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno Anyango who is also former Kanu vice chairman tickled the meeting with a humorous speech when he asked incumbent MPs to allow aspirants to freely campaign in their respective constituencies, including their home turfs, unlike in 2002 when incumbent MP's marked some areas as a no-go zones for their opponents.
 
  Another thorny issue that cross- section of the aspirants interviewed raised,
is the composition of the nomination board for both the parlimentary and civic
party nomination.
 
  Some aspirants are of the opinion that DP should hire the services of the
electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) to conduct the elections.
 
  while, others, are suggesting that the clergy be involved for the sake  of
tranparency and accountability while a number said the LDP secretariat headed by Prof. Larry Gumbe were best placed to conduct the nomination, as they did during the LDP grassroots elections.
 
  An aspirant for Nyatike who did not attend the meeting predicted that next
year's election will be so complicated.It will not matter how much money one has or who someone knows "Clearance of candidates will be strict even some of us are not sure of making it" he said.
 
  With elections just around the corner, campaign for various seats reached
notch higher with Ker Ogallo pledging that the Luo Council of Elders will play
its role to ensure party nominations are free and fair.
 
  And, he warned politicians against inciting the electorate as elections
vilolence is  a serious election crime.  He pleaded with aspirants to base their
campaign agenda on issue and matters of development rather than witch-hunting and name calling.