Leaders from Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s  Nyanza backyard have formed a caucus to push for the community interest.

The Piny Owacho II caucus will review political progress and challenges and advise them. It will also defend and push for the community’s democratic rights and pronounce itself promptly on matters affecting the Community.

Piny Owacho II which loosely translates to “the world has spoken” has brought on board all governors elected on the ODM ticket, Senators, Woman Reps, MPs, and MCAs, who vowed to remain united.

Others members of the group include religious leaders across Nyanza and professionals from various fields.

The leaders were unhappy that some MPs from the area had teamed up with President William Ruto only a few months after the General Election whose results Raila has disputed. They singled out Kisumu senator Prof Tom Ojienda and MPs Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Elisha Odhiambo(Gem), Paul Abuor(Rongo), Gideon Ochanda of Bondo  for shifting their allegiance to  President Ruto.

The lawmakers recently visited President William Ruto in State House saying they went there to discuss development issues.

The new caucus was formed during a meeting of Nyanza leaders at the weekend.  Politicians at the meeting condemned the rebel MP’s actions as open disrespect to the party rank and file.

Governors Prof Anyang Nyong’o(Kisumu), Dr Ochillo Ayacko, (Migori), Gladys Wanga,(Homa Bay) and James Orengo (Siaya),  Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi (pictured) and chairman John Mbadi attended the Kisumu meeting.

 Wandayi termed the meeting as a milestone a kin to the first historic Piny Owacho meeting that united the Luo leadership in 1948 in the liberation struggle.

“Another such meeting is being held today and I can affirm that we are firmly in the liberation struggle,’’ declared Wandayi and asked Kenyans to brace for change.

They resolved to fight for a number of challenges  among them electoral democracy and reconstitution of the national polls agency.

Other issues were strengthening, defending multi-party democracy, to avoid a possible backslide into a monolithic party system or allow a democratic recession.

This is the first time that the community leaders were coming together after a long period of lull to exhibit unity after the elusive bid to ascend to the Presidency.

Raila displayed evidence from the reported whistle blower that revealed that his Azimio political outfit allegedly polled 8.1 million votes against Ruto’s 5.9 votes.