Gusii professionals lobby for Nairobi Woman Rep seat in talks with Raila

Gusii professionals in Nairobi have lobbied ODM leader Raila Odinga to support one of their own for the Woman Representative position, currently held by Esther Passaris, in the 2027 General Election.

This, they said, will be in appreciation of the staunch support they have extended to him in his various political pursuits since 2007.

At the same time, they revealed their intention to field candidates for various parliamentary and civic seats in areas where they have a significant presence.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with the ODM leader in Nairobi, the professionals pledged to stick with Raila and follow the direction he will give to his supporters ahead of the next polls, saying they will back him if he decides to make another bid for the presidency.

Dr Enosh Osoro Nyakweba, who led the delegation, said the community’s support for Raila and ODM remains intact despite former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i and former Chief Justice David Maraga having declared interest in the presidency in 2027.

Dr Osoro said Matiang’i, who left his job at the World Bank in Washington to venture into local politics, failed to consult with the community as well as Raila, before throwing his hat in the ring and dismissed his bid as a non-starter.

“Where you go take us there, don’t leave us behind as a community, we are your people. Despite the talks – Matiang’i, Maraga – your vote remains intact,” he said.

He told Raila that it is God’s will that he failed to clinch the African Union chairmanship seat in February since His plan was for him to return home and rescue the country from plunging into chaos, noting that he always has Kenya’s interests in his heart and thus his decision to forge for peace and tranquility in the country.

The ODM leader struck a deal with President William Ruto to for a broad-based government after the Gen Z revolt in June last year over tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024 they considered punitive, high cost of living, unemployment and bad governance, which he later said saved the country from being ruled by the military as it was the next option the President had were his government to collapse.

Ruto sacked all his ministers and appointed a new one that included five former senior ODM officials.

“We were lamenting the other day about the African Union seat, little did we know that God’s hand was in this exercise. It is now that we are appreciating that you were with God as you moved around the world to look to look for that position but God didn’t have that for you. He wanted you back home here to save Kenyans and you have done it,” Dr Osoro said during the meeting.

He also revealed that eight communities which have bought land and resided in neighbouring Kajiado County have come together to advance the broad-based government’s interests.

During the meeting, the professionals, among others, asked Raila to intervene and ensure those from the Gusii region who were displaced by the 2007/08 post-election violence in the Rift Valley and became integrated IDPs are compensated.

While then President Uhuru Kenyatta issued Sh358 million and Sh460 million cheques to 7,000 and 9,100 integrated IDPs in Kisii and Nyamira counties respectively during a tour of the region in 2017, individual payments were never done following claims the list of beneficiaries included imposters.