Party to rival ODM set to be unveiled after Feb 28

Posted by: The People in National February 11, 2014

Luo Council of Elders chairman Riaga Ogallo with other members. He has hinted the anti-Raila revolt in Luo Nyanza has taken a new twist after like-minded leaders opted to form a new political party to challenge ODM dominance in the region. Photo/FILE

A new political party to rival Orange Democratic Movement could be unveiled after the February 28 ODM delegates conference. And the Luo Council of Elders has expressed backing for the new party saying it will cater for the interests of Luo Nyanza. “We are just waiting for ODM party elections and we will make a major announcement thereafter,” said a source within the party who declined to be named yesterday.

Luo Council of Elders chairman Meshack Riaga Ogallo told The People that plans to form the party have reached advanced stage and it will be unveiled soon. “It is true there is a new political party in the works whose details I will reveal to you later,” he said.

Ogallo said the new political party will, however, welcome representation from different communities. Riaga has been at logger heads with ODM party leader Raila Odinga for the past six years and even went to court to protest his replacement as the Luo Council of Elders chairman. The High Court ruled in his favour although the position is also claimed by his rival Opiyo Otondi.

Riaga said that the main intention of forming a new political party was based on the past political experiences in the region. “There has not been any democracy in Luo Nyanza and as elders we feel that we should break away from the past and let our people have another political vehicle to enable them effectively engage in political participation,” he said.

Riaga accused Raila of dictatorship and suppressing independent political minds in the region which has impacted negatively on the region’s development. “Just look at what he did to former Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju despite having a development track record. Tuju’s divergent political opinion and failure to support Raila made the people Rarieda lose a great leader,” he said.

Talk of the formation of a new political party in the region emerged after young Members of Parliament from Luo Nyanza withdrew from the race for various ODM national positions in the February 28 party elections. Last week, Ugenya MP David Ochieng took the former premier head on accusing him of misleading the Luo community.

Ochieng, who alongside Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, Kisumu central MP Ken Obura and Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, withdrew from the race of secretary general, skipped the 20th Jaramogi Oginga Odinga memorial service in Bondo.  - By BARAKA KARAMA