Dynasty factor: Siaya, Kisumu Odingas’ battlefield in run up to August 9 polls
Kenya’s politics has really been the story of two dynasties between the Kenyattas and the Odingas.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s great ability is to be able to mobilise well beyond his own Luo community, and to sustain his political party for a decade.
Odinga’s support base is also noteworthy in terms of size. He did well in 2013 among Luhya voters in western Kenya, Kamba voters in eastern Kenya, and Coast voters.
Odinga’s capacity to mobilise support across ethnic lines has two sources. On the one hand, he receives some votes “second hand” as a result of the efforts of his allies from other regions and ethnic groups to direct rally their communities to his cause.
Apart from the ODM leader’s presidential ambitions at least six members of the late Jaramogi’s family have thrown their hats in the 2022 election ring.
Raila’s elder brother Oburu Oginga will contest for the Siaya Senate seat, their younger sister, former Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga, has sparked controversy by entering the contest for Kisumu woman representative.
Oginga’s son, Elijah Oburu (Kisumu Central parliamentary constituency), and the ODM leader’s half-brother, Isaac Omondi Odinga (Milimani Market Ward), are among the family members seeking elected seats.
Jaoko Oburu, another of Oginga’s sons, is alleged to have withdrawn his candidacy for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat following extensive consultation.
Others include their relative Jalang’o Midiwo, who received a boost when Odinga donated Sh1 million and a Prado vehicle to his campaign last year.
The announcement comes just days after Raphael Tuju, the immediate former Jubilee secretary-general, resigned to run for a seat in Siaya, his hometown.
After Cornel Rasanga, who is serving his final term, leaves office, the Cabinet secretary without portfolio appears to be torn between the Rarieda parliamentary seat, Lang’ata, currently held by Jubilee’s Nixon Korir, and Siaya senator or governor.
This, however, is contingent on conversations with “stakeholders”, which we interpret to mean President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He was an Odinga loyalist who was elected to represent Rarieda in the 2002 elections, but afterwards broke out with him, costing him re-election.
