‘Some people were duping Raila,’ Otiende Amolo says on Azimio leader loss

Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo on Sunday bemoaned the presidential loss of Raila Odinga saying that some characters misled the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader.

Otiende claimed that, together with Siaya senator Dr. Oburu Oginga and governor James Orengo, there was something they had discussed about Raila's run and his closest handlers.

"But Dr. Oburu, we must say some things. Some people were duping Jakom (Raila)," a visibly-angry Otiende said.

He explained that the said characters duped Raila before and during the elections.

“You, Oburu and Orengo, know the things that we discussed even at Bomas (of Kenya),” Otiende recalled, “Those ticks (said characters) must now leave!”

The senior counsel who represented Raila in the presidential petition at the Supreme Court claimed Raila's win was stolen at the ballot, at the Supreme Court, and in parliament.

Otiende was speaking at Mutumbu Primary School in Gem during the burial ceremony of Gem MP Elisha Ofhiambo's sister Lucy Akinyi.

Otiende went ahead to say there are people around Raila and the outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta who were cheating Raila.

"The president himself was supporting Raila but the people around him were not supporting him. I think they sabotaged us," Otiende explained.

Adding his voice to the issue, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi said that the sycophancy that has clouded the region's politics and Raila's ambition must now be dealt with.

"Those people (alleged sycophants) must leave."

Atandi said that the so-called sycophants were not teachable oblivious of Raila's loss.

"It is time for reflection," Atandi said.

Siaya Women Representative Christine Ombaka lambasted the Supreme Court over its choice of vocabulary while slaying Raila's petition.

"Hot air for what! I am a linguist and it was very wrong. You cannot say that the petition was hot air. That was so colloquial," Ombaka said.

But Raila's elder brother Oburu assured residents of Siaya that they are Kenyans and the incoming presidency will not jeopardise them in any way.

He also urged his colleagues to go slow on attacking others whom they disagree with, following Raila's loss.

"For now, let us not tell others to leave. Let us go slow," Oburu said.

Lang'ata MP Phelix Oduor alias Jalang'o, who hails from Gem, told residents not to be weary because Raila has sons like him who will be in charge of things.

"It is painful. We are sorrowful but Raila told me to tell you to remain calm because we, the sons of Luo, are still available," Oduor said.

Otiende Amolo further urged governor Orengo to make devolution work in the county for it is the only hope of the people.

"The good thing is that we now have laws that bring money into the hands of governor Orengo. They may plunder the national government but the one meant for Siaya must come," Otiende noted.

It is the county governments that must now work for us, Otiende observed.

"Our hope is now in you, Orengo, and your deputy William Oduol," Otiende stressed.

Siaya deputy governor William Oduol recognized that; indeed, it is only the county governments that we (Luos) are left with for survival.

"Yes, we are now left with our counties to depend on. I want to encourage my colleagues to stop petty politics. Let us make Siaya county work for us," Oduol observed.

On his part, Orengo said that the Supreme Court ruling was not akin to judicial literature.

He explained that judges need to be measured in their statements in order to have justice served to both winners and losers of a case.