‘Gusii people have supported Raila Odinga for many years but have nothing to show for it’ – Nyaribari Masaba MP

Nyaribari Masaba Member of Parliament (MP) Daniel Manduku, has launched a scathing critique of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, accusing him of sidelining the Gusii community despite their years of unwavering political support.

Speaking on a local media station on January 20, 2025, the MP expressed dissatisfaction with ODM’s lack of tangible rewards for the Gusii region, highlighting the absence of significant political appointments.

“Where I come from in Kisii, we have an issue with the party. Raila Odinga gave all the party positions to his Luo tribesmen. We Kisiis, have gotten nothing from Odinga. We are not happy with the party,” Manduku said.

The MP further stated that the recent alignment of some ODM members with President Ruto has not benefited the ODM party, claiming that those moves were individual decisions and not officially endorsed by the party.

“Those colleagues of ODM who joined the government joined on their own volition. There was never a meeting of the party to decide to join the Broad-based government led by President Ruto…They’re the ones who have benefitted on their own, the party has not benefitted from those appointments,” he said.

He emphasized that these actions have resulted in the exclusion of the region’s leaders from key government positions.

“We, the people of Gusii, have supported Raila Odinga for many years, but we have nothing to show for it…Kisii has no single PS to date, Kisii doesn’t have any state corporation that is beneficial to us but when Raila Odinga gets these positions he gives them to his Luo counterparts,” he stated.

Mass exodus

The Nyaribari Masaba MP warned of a growing sense of frustration within the Gusii community, hinting at the possibility of a mass exodus from ODM unless significant changes are made.

“We are coalescing and talking as the Gusii nation with the ultimate focus on having a mass walkout of ODM if things don’t change,” he added.

His remarks come amid increasing criticism of ODM opposition members aligning with the government.

ODM cautions members

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed his dissatisfaction with some ODM leaders, who he claimed were more focused on aligning themselves with President William Ruto’s government than on addressing the plight of ordinary Kenyans.

Sifuna, speaking during the burial of Roseline Odede, the former chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in Uyoma, Rarieda Sub-County, lamented that such actions have hindered efforts to hold the government accountable.

“We must stop being sycophants. If something is wrong, it is wrong. I will not participate in the activities of my fellow ODM members who are enjoying the fruits of being in Ruto’s government and are stifling my efforts to call out the government,” he said.

Sifuna reiterated the need to uphold the party’s foundational principles disclosing that Odinga had tasked him with preserving ODM’s identity as a symbol of hope for Kenyans.

“When you decided to run for the AUC, you told me as the Secretary General of ODM that we must retain the identity of our political party as a beacon of hope for Kenyans. This is what I aspire to do, whether you succeed or not,” Sifuna said.

During the same function, Siaya Governor James Orengo emphasized the need for ODM leaders to prioritize principles over convenience, warning of future repercussions if they compromise the party’s values.

“We (ODM) have an identity. If you lose that identity for easy victories, we are going to pay for it in the future. If you must make compromises, you must make compromises on matters of principle. Do not be part of praise and worship,” he cautioned.