Push for fresh leadership made Nyong’o withdraw from ODM national polls

By JUMA KWAYERA

KENYA: ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o’s withdrawal from the party’s elections was a response to mounting pressure for a change of guard at the helm in the hope of giving the party fresh impetus.

After the party’s bungled nominations last year, Prof Nyong’o came under a barrage of accusations for allegedly selling certificates to losers, claims that have dogged him ever since.

The number of candidates lining up for his seat — 12 — underlines how the former Professor of political science was under pressure to let go of the reins of leadership.

It is also a fact that Nyong’o has in recent years been bogged down by ill-health. Three years ago, he travelled to the US for prostate cancer treatment. His dynamism has somewhat slackened since he returned. He, however, did not cite this reason when he made his announcement to bow out of the February 28 elections.

Speaking to The Standard on Saturday, Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang pointed out that scramble for seats by MPs from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Nyanza stronghold would in the long run hurt the party. Some are being prevailed upon to opt out in favour of candidates from other regions.

The intention he says, is to have representation in all parts of the country, especially Nyanza, Western, Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast where the party has grassroots support. “The party should be national in its leadership and membership. We want the elections to bring out the face of Kenya,” Kajwang says.

But efforts to enable the party to have strong presence around the country are being resisted by the so called Young Turks, who argue that the highest offices should be the preserve of the region where the party has solid support.

That means Nyanza, which candidates for nearly all the positions hail from.

Led by Kisumu Town MP Ken Obura, the younger generation has been on the warpath calling for the removal of Nyong’o. The MP has been coveting the position as the push for generational change preoccupies the minds of the youthful leaders.

Party insiders say Nyong’o was persuaded by Raila to pave way for Kwale Senator Agnes Zani, who occasionally reads party resolutions after meetings instead of the former.  Others that have shown interest in the seat include Siaya Senator James Orengo, nominated Senators Janet Ong’era and Elizabeth Ongoro, Suba MP John Mbadi, Kisumu Town MP Ken Obura and Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba.

The rest of the candidates for the seat, except Namwamba, have roots in Nyanza, which is what Raila is said to be trying to avoid. ODM opponents have persistently cast the party as Luo outfit that serves the interests of Raila.

Zani will also balance the gender disparities for which the party has been accused of perpetuating.

In the same way, the strength of Luo legend Lwanda Magere resided in his shadow, Nyong’o is Raila’s and, by extension, ODM’s ideological recess.Famous for his caustic tongue and impatience with intellectual midgets, Nyong’o, the Kisumu county senator, cuts the image of a philosopher when articulating ODM manifesto or political position on any issue.

Together with Raila’s former political advisor Miguna Miguna and Orengo, they constituted a triumvirate that kept the former President Kibaki side of then grand coalition government on its tenterhooks.

Responding to questions about the bruising tussle in the party, Suna East MP Mohammed Junet observes that this demonstrates that ODM still has the largest following compared to other political outfits.  However, it would be injurious to elect people from one tribe or region to lead ODM, he says.

“We do not want to go the old Kanu way. The demeanour of the individual will validate his or her performance. The truth is there is a lot of interest in the party. However, we still regret that nominations for the last general election should have been handled better,” Junet says.

The unspoken word in Junet’s statement was Nyongo’s mishandled the nomination being the party’s spokesman.

In his statement of withdrawal, Nyongo noted: “The building of a national democratic and developmental state in Kenya will have to go beyond the democratic gains in the current constitution. It is urgent and necessary to dismantle the vestiges of presidential authoritarian rule in our society while also eliminating ethnic hegemonic politics in our political culture.... .”

It has not always been the spirit of camaraderie between Nyong’o and Raila. The two have tussled over the leadership of Nyanza and the Luo electoral bloc.

The three stints Nyong’o has enjoyed as an MP were either because of the support he received from the Odinga family to win the Kisumu Town seat or through nominations. This was after his attempts to swim against the Odinga’s tide came a cropper.

With Charity Ngilu, he formed Social Democratic Party that took part in the 1997 presidential election. For his daring attempt to break the Odinga hegemony in Nyanza, he flopped miserably.

The price he paid would later see him forever beholden, his intellectual prowess notwithstanding.