By Anderson Ojwang
In what appeared to be taking the battle to the doorsteps of political opponents, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Assembly Chief Whip Millie Mabona Odhiambo demanded respect for the family of the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
Speaking in Kisumu before Nyanza ODM delegates led by party leader Dr Oburu Oginga and the party’s National Chairperson, Gladys Wanga, Millie said Mama Ida Odinga and her daughter deserve respect from the party leadership.
Millie, without mincing her words, shut down a section of the crowd that was booing, insisting that Ida and Winnie must be respected and that nobody would intimidate her.
The Suba North MP said she respects Dr Oburu by virtue of the fact that he is Raila’s brother and that he is the party leader.
“Respect ma amiyo party leader Oburu amiye nikech en ngʼama angeye kendo amiye nikech Jakom Raila Amolo Odinga. (The respect I give to the party leader Oburu is because I know him and also because of Jakom Raila Amolo Odinga).
Respect amiyo Oburu Odinga nikech en owadgi Jakom. (I respect Oburu because he is the brother of Raila).
Jo thurwa, by the same vein, amiyo respect ne Ida Odinga, amiyo respect ne Winnie Odinga. (My people, by the same vein, I give respect to Mama Ida Odinga and Winnie Odinga).
Ok abiro tamora miye respect, kata ikwera kata ok ikwera. Adwa wacho. Ok an ngʼoro. Ma inyalo kwera. Awacho gi thuon. Amiyo respect ne Jakom mar party, amiyo respect ne Ida, kendo achiwo respect ne Winnie. (I will not stop giving them the respect they deserve, whether you like it or not. I am not a coward. You can shout, but I will speak without fear. I give respect to the party leader, Ida, and Winnie),” she said.
Millie said it was wrong to subject Winnie to public condemnation instead of mentoring and correcting her privately where she may have erred.
“Winnie nyathi matin ma ka uneno ka odhi marach to imako bade to inyise yoo ok dhawne. Ok dhawne e mbele ji. Imako bade imiye respect. Inyise ni, Winnie, in nyathi matin luo ka. (Winnie is a young person, and when you see she has erred, you do not condemn her publicly. You call her aside with respect and guide her in the right direction),” she said.
Winnie and her uncle, Dr Oburu, have engaged in what can be termed as a public spat over the broad-based arrangement and the leadership of ODM.
Oburu–Winnie Tiff
At the ODM 20th anniversary, the fallout between Winnie and Oburu became apparent. It was only a matter of time before it escalated, and recently Oburu responded to Winnie by saying he was the brain behind the broad-based government and that he chaired all the meetings.
“There is something I wanted to tell you. When it came to the matter of the broad-based government, the people of ODM entrusted one person with the management of that relationship. That person was Baba Raila Amolo Odinga.
That relationship is complicated, and therefore we are looking and wondering whether those who are taking it upon themselves to manage it now are capable of doing so.
I do not think that is a question for me to answer. That is a question for the people of ODM to answer. That is why, as party leader, I am requesting that we go back to the people and hold an NDC to see who they want to pick to manage that same relationship,” she said.
Oburu’s Response
Recently, Oburu responded by declaring that he has been the one chairing all the broad-based meetings between Raila and Ruto, which, in his view, makes him the brainchild and chief negotiator of the arrangement.
“Those who are saying that Oburu is not validly elected, I challenge them. If they say it is the NDC, let us go to the NDC, and I will call it very soon,” he said.
Oburu said he is the one who has been chairing all the broad-based arrangements between Ruto and the late Raila.
“Those who are saying Oburu does not talk are talking nonsense. In this broad-based arrangement, I want to assure those who are saying that it was only Raila who could handle it and that Oburu does not know anything about it.
I want to tell them that all the meetings of the broad-based arrangement with Ruto were chaired by Oburu Odinga, before you here today,” he said.
Winnie in Kibra
Winnie and her brother, Raila Junior, recently made a triumphant entry into Kibera’s Kamukunji grounds to a heroic welcome.
When Winnie Odinga rose to speak, she did not hold back, and in her, her father’s rebellious DNA was evident.
“Leo tumerudi nyumbani. Nilisikia kuna watu walisema eti hatuwezi kuja hapa. (Today, we have returned home. I heard some people said we cannot come here).
Hawa ni wakina nani? Waelezeni nimerudi nyumbani. Nimepitia kwa bedroom na hata sasa natoa viatu. (Who are these people? Tell them I have returned home. I have even passed through the bedroom and I am now removing my shoes),” she said.
“Kwenye hii safari sisi tulikuwa abiria na baba alikuwa dereva wa basi hili. Nakuna siku moja tuli amka na tukashtuka dereva amekufa. (On this journey, we were passengers and Baba was the driver of the bus. One day we woke up to the shocking news that the driver had died).
Aliaga dunia. Kidogo wale waliokuwa wanakaa mbele walikimbilia steering wheel, kila mtu akivuta upande wake. (The driver died, and almost immediately those who were seated in front rushed to the steering wheel, each pulling in a different direction).
Wametutupa sisi kama magunia. Wamesahau. Tunasema ngojeni, Baba alikufa juzi tu. Haraka ya nini? Wacha tuzungumze kwanza. Simamisheni mazungumzo. Tuongee kwanza, kisha tusonge mbele pamoja. (They threw us aside like sacks. They forgot us. We are saying, wait, Baba only died the other day. What is the hurry? Let us talk first. Stop the negotiations. Let us talk, then we move forward together),” she said.
Jaoko Oburu recently said the party does not belong to any individual but to Kenyans.
He wrote on his X handle: “The party does not belong to an individual or a certain community; it belongs to the Kenyan people. We will remain united while being guided by the party constitution and the principles set by our founding members.”
