THE G7 alliance funds drive in aid of PM Raila Odinga’s step-brother’s political campaigns that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed indefinitely. The group told the Star yesterday the fund raiser was put off following a request by Isaac Omondi Odinga, who said the family was involved in funeral arrangements for a cousin, Awuor Leah Gondi, who will be buried in Bondo on Saturday. He said Raila, Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga and other family members are expected to attend the funeral ceremony.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny, speaking on behalf of Eldoret North MP William Ruto, who was set to be the chief guest at the function at the late Jaramogi Odinga’s Milimani home, said the function has been rescheduled indefinitely at Omondi’s request. He said Ruto will also be away Dubai with his family for the Easter holiday. “Being an Easter vacation, most of our leaders will be travelling abroad while others will be with their constituents and family members at home,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Makadara MP Mike Sonko, Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa and Cooperatives assistant minister Linah Jebii Kilimo among the G7 members invited to the function. Kuttuny and URP party activist George Ayugi said the funds drive organising committee will meet after Easter to and set a new date for the function. “The plans to raise funds for Omondi are still on and we cannot say the preparations have been shelved," said Kuttuny.
He said the G7 has scheduled a series of meetings in Nyanza region, adding that the fund raiser will be rescheduled to coincide with the tour. Ayugi, who is the URP pointman in Luo Nyanza and a Ruto ally said police have already been informed of the rescheduled meeting. Omondi said the family is positive on the planned funds drive. “The family including the PM agreed there is no problem with the planned fund raiser,” he added.
He urged members of the Luo community to change their perception over other communities. “These were the ideologies that my father Jaramogi Odinga stood for. We cannot live in isolation and this is the right time to show our brothers and sisters from other communities that we are with them,” he said. Omondi's move to invite his brother's political rival for the funds drive shocked the family.
He said he wanted to raise money to contest the Bondo parliamentary seat currently held by his elder brother Oburu, who has declared interest in the Siaya county Senator's seat. Raila's cousin who is ODM's Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo has described Omondi’s invitation of the G7 politicians as a "welcome move". Omondi is the civic leader for Kisumu’s Milimani ward and lives at Jaramogi’s Kisumu home, a reason many of his allies are urging him to run for the newly created Kisumu Central constituency and not Bondo. He is the first born son of Jaramogi's third wife Susan Agik Odinga, who runs a tailoring business in Kisumu. Jaramogi had four wives— the late Mary Juma, Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik and Betty Adongo- and 17 children.Mary, the mother of Raila and Oburu died in 1984.
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