Luo elders ask Kosgey to go for presidency

FRIDAY, 27 JANUARY 2012 00:07 BY JUSTUS OCHIENG

APPEAL: Mzee Riaga Ogallo speaks to the Star at the Nyanza Provincial headquarters. Photo/Justus Ochieng

SOME elders from Nyanza have asked Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey to declare his interest for the ODM Party ticket and face PM Raila Odinga and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi in the nominations. The elders said with the defection of Eldoret North MP William Ruto to United Republican Party, the Kalenjin community should not be left out of ODM Party top leadership.

The move came barely two days after a section of ODM delegates from the region petitioned the party to retain Kosgey as national chairman during the forthcoming elections. The delegates; Hilary Alila (Homabay), Odunga Mamba (Siaya), Dave Okwatch (Kisumu), Ben Ombima (Vihiga) and John Olum (Kisumu) said Kosgey’s unwavering support for the party warrants him the position. Yesterday, the Luo council of elders’ officials Riaga Ogallo, Adera Osawa and Dorothy Juma said Kosgey and Mudavadi’s candidature for the party’s ticket will enhance democracy in the party.

Speaking to the Star at the Nyanza provincial headquarters, Ogallo said they would however, not wish to push Kosgey into seeking the party’s ticket adding that “it is up to the ODM’s political wing to consider him.” He pointed out there is need for ODM Party to take advantage of Kosgey to win back the Kalenjin community to the party. “We want Kosgey to talk to the Kalenjin community to remain steadfast in ODM as they will not be in a position to clinch power without our support,” said Ogallo.

He said Raila, Mudavadi and Kosgey need to form a strong winning strategy ahead of the forthcoming general elections. Dorothy observed that Kosgey’s exemplary behaviour when he was facing ICC confirms that he is a mature leader with good qualities of leadership adding that he should not be stopped from seeking the party’s ticket if he declares his interest. “Kosgey is one of the trusted leaders in Rift Valley and we believe should he declare his interest for the ODM party’s ticket he will be in a position to marshal support from his community back to the party,” she added.

Adera noted that should Kosgey not declare interest in going for the party’s presidential nominations he should continue as the Chairman. His sentiments were shared by Willis Otondi who however refused to comment on whether Kosgey should seek ODM’s ticket only saying that, “the party should decide whether he contests on not.”

On January 11 while addressing an ODM party’s National Delegates Conference at KCB Training Centre in Karen, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi assured them that they will respect their decision on who will bear the party’s flag for presidential race. The two noted that they are ready to support whoever wins the nominations and party supporters from Nyanza believe if Kosgey seeks the ticket too and manages to marshal support on his side and Raila beats him, he will be able to deliver victory to the PM if he sticks with him to the ballot.

On September 1, 2007, ODM elected Raila as its presidential candidate; Mudavadi took second place with 391 votes, far short of Raila's 2,656 votes while Ruto came distant third in the nominations which saw Tourism Minister Najib Balala step down in Raila’s favour. Along with the other defeated candidates, Mudavadi expressed his support for Raila afterward, and he was named Raila's running mate for the election.