I did not have the power – Raila reveals why Midiwo died as non MP

ODM leader Raila Odinga has revealed why former MP Jakoyo Midiwo failed to clinch his seat during the 2017 polls after he failed the party’s nomination. 

Raila was speaking during the burial of Jakoyo Midiwo in Gem on Saturday, June 26.

“In the last elections there were a lot of complaints about nominations. But if you want to know that ODM respects party structures, if I had the power to make changes, Jakoyo and Dr Oburu Odinga would have been in Parliament,” Raila said. 

The former premiere added that after Jakoyo and Oburu lost the appeal, there was no way he could have changed the decision by the party and impose the two former legislators on the people.

Raila stated that ODM party nominations are a challenge because they are similar to conducting a general election. 

“As a party we have to print ballot papers, have presiding and returning officers in each of the polling stations in the country and we don’t have the necessary funds to do it,” Raila said. 

Jakoyo Midiwo died at the Nairobi Hospital while receiving treatment in June 14.

In his message of comfort to the family, relatives, friends and supporters of  Jakoyo , President Uhuru Kenyatta said Jakoyo was an outspoken politician as a forthright, brave and straight forward leader who spoke his mind all the times. 

“I have received the sad news of the passing away of my friend, the Hon Jakoyo Midiwo with shock and disbelief.

I was with him during my recent working tour of Nyanza during which we opened several projects in his former constituency,” the President recalled.

East African Legislative Assembly MP Dr Oburu Oginga, the family’s spokesperson, said Jakoyo passed on  while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.