Africa-Press – Kenya. Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has urged “ODM experts” to ensure that Luo Nyanza benefits from government development initiatives to maintain support for party leader Raila Odinga.
He was referring to the five ODM bigwigs who were appointed to the Cabinet, including John Mbadi(National Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi(Energy and Petroleum), Beatrice Askul(EAC), Hassan Joho(Blue Economy) and Wyckliffe Oparanya(Cooperatives).
Speaking during the funeral service of slain Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were, Oburu, who is Raila Odinga’s elder brother, called for affirmative action to ensure that ODM strongholds receive priority in resource allocation.
The senator specifically appealed to Mbadi to ensure that Raila’s support bases, which he said have long suffered from development inequalities, receive more benefits than other regions.
“Please don’t rest, because wananchi want services. That’s why they came out to demonstrate. These services must be delivered so that their support for Raila has real meaning,” Oburu said.
“That support will be meaningless if people simply go back to the status quo.”
The senator emphasised that Raila’s strongholds have been historically marginalised, even as their residents continue to pay for debts incurred by projects implemented elsewhere.
“We are paying for debts on projects that were developed in other parts of the country. When we talk about getting our share, we don’t want anyone else’s share. We want ours—including the share that previously went elsewhere, but whose debt our people are also paying,” he said.
Oburu urged Mbadi to adopt an approach akin to affirmative action when it comes to national resource distribution, saying it is time for Luo Nyanza to reap the benefits of the government.
“Honourable Mbadi, when your knife is on the bread, let the top look equal—but as it goes down, let it tilt slightly in our favour, as an act of affirmative action,” he added.
The Senator challenged the ODM ministers to be deliberate in their work to ensure Raila’s regions are not left behind in development programmes.
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