Siaya
Sunday March 31, 2024
KNA by Philip Onyango
Opposition politicians yearning to succeed former prime minister, Raila Odinga as the Orange Democratic Movement party leader must go slow, two legislators from Nyanza have said.
Alego / Usonga MP, Samuel Atandi and his Nyando counterpart, Jared Okello said that already, there were signals that the party leader has already identified his successor in the party and the larger Azimio la Umoja coalition as he gears to take up the Africa Union Commission chairmanship.
Speaking today at Ulhowe village in Ugunja constituency during the burial of the late Miriam Aloo, aunt to national assembly minority leader, Opiyo Wandayi, the duo maintained that there will be no vacuum in the leadership of the party adding that those angling for the position were wasting their time.
They advocated for the Ugunja legislator, Opiyo Wandayi to hold brief for Raila.
“Raila has already indicated to us whoever he would like to take over and hold brief for him as he goes to the Africa union” said Atandi adding “the person is Opiyo Wandayi”.
He said that those jostling to lead the party do not need to conduct opinion polls, chest thump or threaten the party rank and file to catch the eye of the former premier.
Nyando MP, Jared Okello said that if there will be need to elect somebody to fill Raila’s position, then regional support and representation will have to be looked into.
Okello, who equally told those yearning for the party leadership to hold their horses, said that Nyanza will have to present somebody at the negotiating table where the issue of party leadership will be discussed.
“We have no apology to make about that. We have our leader, Opiyo Wandayi who has steered this ship well since we gave him this mantle” said the Nyando MP adding “any negotiating table without Wandayi remains null and void”.
Wandayi, who was the master of ceremony, did not comment on the issue.
Okello in the meantime has called on President William Ruto to take over the negotiations with the doctors to avert a catastrophe that awaits Kenyans should the on-going strike continue.
The burial was also attended by Siaya county assembly speaker, George Okode and a host of members of the county assembly.