‘It’s no crime to be politician’s child’ – MP Kaluma defends Winnie Odinga’s nomination to EALA

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has defended the nomination of children of top Kenyan politicians to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), saying they too have a right to contest for political seats.

In a tweet on Monday, November 14, the outspoken legislator said ‘it’s no crime to be a child of a politician’.

Kaluma made the comments after a section of Kenyans criticized the nomination of Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka’s son Kennedy Musyoka to the regional assembly.

Just like Winnie Odinga who was fronted by his father’s ODM party, Kennedy Musyoka was nominated to the assembly by Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party last week.

Kaluma affirmed that he will support the duo for election to EALA.

“It’s no crime to be the child of a politician or a politician. I’ll vote for Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo, Winnie Mandela Odinga and 7 other persons, mostly former MPs to join East Africa Legislative Assembly,” Kaluma stated.

It’s no crime to be the child of a politician or a politician.
I’ll vote for Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo, Winnie Mandela Odinga and 7 other persons, mostly former MPs to join East Africa Legislative Assembly.

— Hon. George Peter Kaluma (@gpdkaluma) November 14, 2022

MPS will vote for the nominees on Thursday, November 17.

Lawyer and political activist Miguna Miguna had challenged the nomination of Winnie Odinga and Kennedy Musyoka to EALA, accusing the family of Odinga and Musyoka of promoting political dynasty.

The harsh critic of Odinga said the former Prime Minister’s family had abused their privileges for many years and it is time they are stopped.

“Winnie Odinga a.k.a. Winnie is not qualified to be a member of EALA. Using the last name “ODINGA” as an ornament is not a qualification for public office. The Odinga family has abused their privileges for 60 years and it is high time we stopped their abuse!” Miguna tweeted.

Winnie Odinga was among six nominees fronted by the ODM party for the EALA seats.

Others are the ODM party’s national treasurer Timothy Bosire, former Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Suleiman Shabal, Justus Kizito, Beatrice Askul and Mohammed Diriye.

Amid the backlash, Winnie Odinga insists she is qualified for the job.

“I have travelled the region, I have studied it and I know it well. We lose when we compete against each other instead of working together,” she said while campaigning for herself on Friday.

“As the biggest economy in the region, it’s time for Kenya to roar and lead in bringing the EAC together. I believe I know how.”

The nominees will appear before parliament for vetting before a vote is cast to determine members who will represent Kenya at the regional assembly.

Raila’s Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza are jostling for nine slots allocated to Kenya at EALA.

Kenya Kwanza, being the majority in both Houses, will have five slots, while Azimio will have four slots with ODM getting two, Jubilee one and Wiper one.

On Friday, the Kenya Kwanza team unveiled 15 nominees for the EALA jobs.

Among the nominees are former nominated senator David Sankok and Hassan Omar who unsuccessfully contested for the Mombasa governor’s seat in the August 9 general election.

Others recommended for EALA seats are Yasser Bajaber, Salim Busidy, Lilian Tomitom, Cyprian Iringo, Jonas Kuko, Abdikadir Aden and Falhadha Iman to EALA positions.

Joel Nyambane, Godfrey Karobia, Fredrick Charles, Zipporah Kering, and Rebecca Lowoiya have also been nominated for the positions.

A total of 145 candidates had expressed interest in representing Kenya Kwanza at EALA while the Raila camp had more than 90 applicants.