Why Luo Nyanza needs an “outsider” at the helm of ODM secretary general’s post

The clock is ticking towards ODM
party elections slated for 28th
February, 2014. It is billed as the
most critical party elections that will
undeniably decide the future of the
party as it embarks on a journey
many party members refer to as
“rebranding and rejuvenating the
party.”
Mobilization of delegates has taken
a tribal lane, boardroom deals,
threats and counter threats have
emerged from different quarters.
However, the post that has elicited
controversy is the Secretary General.
This is the most strategic post after
that of the party leader. The office
bearer has the key to party success
or failure.
Recently, a group of Luo MPs held a
secret meeting to strategize on the
upcoming party elections.
Apparently, they came out of the
meeting guns blazing demanding
that they must be “given” the
secretary general’s post. One of the
MPs – Hon. Augostinho Neto – was
quoted saying “the head and the
heart must go together”, referring
to the Party Leader and the
Secretary General.
For Neto’s twisted logic, the party
leader and secretary general can
only work in harmony if both are
from the same tribe and in this case,
the Luo. Methink this is nonsense,
outright lie and barbaric sentiment.
The current holder of the position –
Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o – is a Luo
who happens to bear the brunt of
blame for the party’s failure.
Interestingly, Nyongo bowed out of
the race due to cowardice. I know
why these Luo MPs want to cling to
this post and I will tell you why.
Over the years, these conmen have
used this powerful post to seek
political relevance in Nyanza state,
secure their uncertain political
future and protect their political
interests. Through this post, they
have championed corruption,
impunity and politics of exclusion in
that region. They have made it
practically impossible for anyone to
benefit from the party unless your
bank account favors you.
We know of how nomination
certificates were sold to the highest
bidders and their cronies. There has
always been blatant and deliberate
attempt by this club of “Raila’s
hungers on” to lock out potential
competitors. The secretary general;
who happens to be their ring leader,
has always abused his powers to
grant his allies political immunity –
at a fee.
Most of them grapple with the
reality that once an “outsider” gets
the position, their political lifeline
will be at stake. They have a
genuine but imprudent worry which
must be blocked at all cost. At this
point, I need to remind you of
Niccolo Machiaveli’s quote; “Men
rise from one ambition to another:
first they seek to secure themselves
against attack, and then they attack
others.”
In justifying his theory of “the head
and the heart must go together”,
Hon. Neto referred us to some
parties; Wiper and Ford-Kenya.
Interestingly, he never mentioned
ODM’s arch rivals TNA. This was a
deliberate attempt to justify an
illegality. The Mheshimiwa must be
told that ODM is a national party
which must only be compared to
ANC of South Africa and the
Democratic party in USA.
The process of rejuvenating the
party starts with the coming party
elections. The people’s mood must
be clearly read and properly
interpreted. Any damage caused in
the upcoming elections will be
perilous and irreparable. ODM
enemies are keenly watching the
activities of the party. They will
employ all manner of schemes and
dirty tricks in order to infiltrate the
party with the aim of bringing it
down to its knees.
A positive change in the party is a
slap on their hate filled faces. They
want the party to give its supporters
what their supporters don’t deserve.
That way, the Jubilee mandarins
would have succeeded in their
attempt to “burn” the party down
after several desperate and
shameful attempts to coerce the RT.
Hon. Raila Odinga to retire from
politics.
Luo Nyanza has handled Hon. Raila
Odinga for some time now. It’s
logical for a change of guard to take
place. What we need is a
charismatic, innovative, vibrant and
trusted “outsider” to handle Jakom
in the position of secretary general.
For the sake of the future, the party
doesn’t need desperate sycophants
or a political despot who will use the
position to advance his/her own
selfish political interests.
This man or woman must have won
public trust, tried and tested. He/
she mustn’t be under the payroll or
direction of any political desperados
or enemy. The position must also not
be used as “lab test” for someone’s
managerial skills. Nyanza politics
must be reformed and the best
person to do that is an “outsider”
SG.
Look at the contestants for this post
mainly those from the Nyanza
region. Any guarantee that they
won’t carry on perpetuating
impunity and Nyongo’s style of
leadership is highly in qualm. The
blowing wind of change is precisely
giving them nightmares. They are in
an anxious hopeless effort to hang
on anything and everything that
they think can save their skin.
Jakom, there are so many things at
stake here. The wind of change is
blowing and it can’t be ignored.
There are many able young men and
women out there who are ready to
serve the party with great loyalty.
These men and women want a
chance to handle you and the party
in a different way so as to deliver
victory.
It is therefore important for you to
ignore the reckless noise from those
“hangers on” from Luo Nyanza who
want you to taint your image and
that of the party by lending one of
their club member support. I ask
you to keep your hand clean and
ignore these pundits.
For the greater Luo Nyanza, your
eyes are on the price and no matter
who delivers the “crown” to the
king; you must keep your hands
safe. Remember, “There is nothing
more difficult to take in hand, more
perilous to conduct, or more
uncertain in its success, than to take
the lead in the introduction new
order of things”. Niccolo Machiaveli.
Jim Bonnie is a prolific writer on
governance and socio-political issues
affecting Kenya, Africa and the
world. He has a lot of interest in
politics and history.