Dalmas Otieno looks beyond Rongo parliamentary seat in next polls

Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno has announced he will not defend his parliamentary seat in the next general elections.

Even though he did not declare his next interest, Otieno made it clear that he had shifted focus from local politics to a wider spectrum of political leadership that he said will only be focused on economic development.

He made the declaration over the weekend in his Rongo Constituency where he reiterated his ambition to launch a new party.

The MP said he remains a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party until when he will deem it fit to officially launch his new party.

Otieno said he will not relent in his bid to form an outfit to rival ODM for the region's votes.

The legislator said ODM consists of people with divergent opinions and no one should be restricted from expressing his or her political ideas within the party.

"I have not fallen out with the ODM party as claimed by some party officials both at the national and at the grass root level, but the truth is that we need to change the ways of our politics for a better future," said Otieno.

Visionary leaders

The MP said he will only subscribe to parties that spread politics based on development which he said is a necessary tool of prosperity to the locals.

He attributed the underdevelopment of the Luo community to politics of intolerance, nepotism and tribalism which he said should be fought by all means possible.

He asserted that the party, which has since been baptised Kalausi, has stringent policies that will not accommodate, "backward and rebellious individuals."

He said he would have wished to stay in ODM but his conscience directs him otherwise.

On the referendum issue, Otieno said ODM was not likely to achieve its objectives unless it involves visionary leaders like him and consult widely.

Speaking at the same function, Migori County Assembly's Leader of Majority Richard Solo said Nyanza region had visionary leaders who can help in pushing the development agenda and asked the people to be good judges of leaders.