Leaders: Luo community will not join Raila demos

A government relief food distribution exercise in Suna West constituency on Saturday turned into a political rally over calls by ODM leader Raila Odinga for mass action.

Leaders drawn from the Luo community led by the Ministry of Information and Communication Eliud Owalo said the community will not be sidelined by the current government.

“Politics is over and as a government, we will work for all Kenyans irrespective of how they voted as hunger, economy, employment, and development opportunities cuts across all Kenyans,” Owalo said.

He said politics was over and Kenyans, especially the Luo community will not be sidelined.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi who was elected on the ODM party ticket said it was unfortunate that the Luo community has been told to support elected leaders and only shy away from supporting President William Ruto.

"We voted for leaders in all six seats and none was left out, when we want to back leaders for development we should support all elected leaders,” Omondi said.

He said Owalo was the ‘Ruto’s Mr. Fix It' among the Luos and as leaders, they will rely on him for opportunities from the national government.

Other leaders who were present during the food distribution included former Migori governor Okoth Obado, former Kisumu senator Fred Outa, former Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, former Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo and local politician and Nyatike MP aspirant Odiso Ogenga among others.

“As a Luo community, we want to tell Raila we will not support his mass action calls. He can take his family on the streets and avoid unnecessary deaths that have seen innocent blood being shed in streets,” Obado said.

Outa said for the past thirty years, Luos have been holding demonstrations and the last election was a good precursor when results were not disputed

He said the community will not follow the mass action route.

Ogenga called on Raila to look for an alternative means of airing his grievances instead of taking people to the streets for demonstrations.

Area MCA Wiga Kelly Roberts, Suna West MP Peter Masara among other elected leaders skipped the function completely.

Owalo said as a government, they will work with all leaders, either elected or not, to pass the government agenda.

Migori county commissioner Meru Mwangi called on Kenyans to work closely with the government to ensure they all benefit from projects.