Last week’s unannounced visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta to Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s office has heightened speculation that the two are considering long-term political co-operation.
The visit has provoked meetings by the ODM and Cord top brass who are trying to decipher what political implications if any, this new found friendship between the two portends for the opposition.
Kidero, who was elected on an ODM ticket, has already come under suspicion from some top ODM leaders who view his close working relation with Uhuru as an attempt to sideline Cord leader Raila Odinga.
Kidero not only became the first Cord governor to congratulate President Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto soon after the petition challenging their election was concluded. He has also hosted Uhuru for lunch at his Muthaiga home and was in the president’s delegation during the recent visit to China where he signed several infrastructure development deals on behalf of the city. Kidero also accompanied Uhuru during his first visit to Nyanza after the elections.
Coincidentally, Kidero was not invited to accompany Raila when he led two delegations of governors to the US to solicit for investments.
Uhuru made the unprecedented decision to pay a courtesy call on Kidero at his office which has further heightened speculation that his stature vis-a-vis the presidency is on a higher level than that of other governors.
Unlike Uhuru, Raila has yet to visit or be seen at Kidero’s office even though he has paid courtesy calls on the Mombasa, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Siaya governors. His co-principals in Cord— former Vice President and leader of Wiper Democratic Party Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetangula have however paid paid courtesy calls on Kidero.
In July this year, ODM secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o was forced to publicly clarify that Kidero was still a life member of the party and has not indicated any wish to quit.
The Star has learnt that key allies of Cord leader Raila Odinga his brother Oburu Odinga, Nyakach MP Aduma Kodiwuor and Suba MP John Mbadi last Thursday met in Parliament to discuss what they claimed is “rebellion” mounting in Nyanza over what they claims is marginalisation of the region by the government for allegedly being an opposition zone.
The MPs were soon joined by Homa Bay Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who is urged Oburu to urgently organize a consultative meeting with Raila so that they can discuss how they can change this perception and guarantee that the region is not neglected in the provision of services.
Raila’s confidants are said to be seeking avenues to be accommodated in the Jubilee government. They fear that if Kidero, through his close rapport with Uhuru is left to bargain for the welfare of the Luo community, the leaders in Luo Nyanza will be relegated to political obscurity. Already some of the MPs and governors from the region are facing disquiet from the electorate who claim their issues are being ignored.
“We are facing tough times. Our people want us to deliver on the promises we made but we can not do so because government officials do not want to work with us let alone act on our concerns,” said an MP.
Another MP cited rising insecurity in Nyanza which has seen local MPs unsuccessfully demand action from local administration. “We are so frustrated because the provincial adminstration has rendered us useless yet we do not have access to the President. If Kidero will provide the way, so be it and we have told Oburu to tell Raila as much,” said another MP from Kisumu county.
Oburu, Mbadi and Kajwang’ later met with Siaya Senator James Orengo and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo to sound them out on their proposal. However, the two dismissed the suggestion saying they had a role to play as the opposition.
Yesterday Homabay Governor Cyprian Awiti announced that he will work with the government of the day to ensure that his people got the services that they were entitled to.
He urged leaders in the region to turn away from unnecessary politicking and get down to delivering on their election pledges.
“Elections are over and it is time we settle down to work,” Awiti said adding such politicking had contributed to the region’s lack of development and extreme poverty.
Top civil servants and professionals from the region have also been meeting to see how they could get an appointment with President Uhuru to voice their concerns and also express their support for the government.
They read targeted mischief in the sacking of Eve Oduor as the managing director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Tom Odongo at NSSF and Eng. Petronilla Ogut at the National Water.
“It took a late intervention by Kidero to have Eng. Ogut reinstated after the governor raised the issue with the President three months ago at State House,”one of the top civil servants working ay the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said.
– the-star
