A Closer Look on why politicians are fleeing the Raila Odinga Camp

Politicians who have defected and abandoned Azimio leader Raila Odinga, have come forward to explain the reasons behind their departure from the prominent political figure.

Mr. Raila has recently encountered political challenges, with many politicians who were formerly his allies in his Nyanza stronghold defecting and aligning themselves with President William Ruto and his Kenyan First government.

These politicians have recounted the difficulties and hardships they endured within Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) before deciding to break away from him.

They cited factors such as dictatorship, “slavery,” violence, deceit, and public humiliation as the primary reasons for their departure from their former leader.

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President Ruto has been implementing strategies to gain political support in Raila’s strongholds by persuading these politicians to join the ruling coalition.

Some of the politicians who have defected from Raila and joined Kenya Kwanza include former National Police Service spokesman Charles Owino, former MPs Ayiecho Olweny (Muhoroni), Elizabeth Ongoro (Kasarani), Joe Donde (Gem), Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), activist Joshua Nyamori, Odoyo Owidi, and former ODM youth leader and former Majority Leader in the Kisumu County Assembly, Samuel Ong’ow.

Other politicians who have chosen to collaborate with Dr. Ruto include Senator Tom Ojienda of Kisumu, MPs Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Dr. Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as ‘Jalang’o’ (Langata), and Caroli Omondi (Suba South).

Some politicians, like former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, have received government appointments as a result of leaving Raila. Recently, Olweny became one of the latest politicians to defect from Raila. He was received by Dr. Ruto’s “chief envoy,” ICT Minister Eliud Owalo, at his home in Asembo, Siaya.

Prof. Olweny addressed the public about the ordeal he went through in ODM, where he was ejected from the office on October 19, 2022, during a meeting held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall in Nairobi, allegedly because he had not been invited.

“That was the day I found myself without a party. I have been free since then. Before that incident, I was often smeared with mud and harassed in public before finally being ejected from ODM,” Prof. Olweny said.

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Seemingly critical of Raila, the former MP stated, “We must accept that someone else can lead this country and not one person all the time. We had strength and a significant following, although we must admit that we were defeated. I don’t see anyone defeating [President Ruto] in the upcoming elections.”

He explained that he joined a group supporting Raila immediately after completing his PhD in 1992.

Like Prof. Olweny, Elizabeth Ongoro, who served as a Special Senator and was a Member of Parliament for Kasarani, mentioned that they had been in ODM for a long time, to the extent that they believed no other party could politically liberate the Luo community besides their own.

“As a community, we have been in political bondage for a very long time, to the point of forgetting the freedom we have. We must accept that the right time for this community’s liberation has come. That’s why I chose to join UDA willingly,” Ongoro said.

She stated that the community had been at the forefront of advocating for the presence of multiple political parties, so it should not hinder any leader from enjoying their freedom according to the constitution.

Odoyo Owidi reiterated the suffering they endured in ODM.

“ODM is a party filled with political deceit. There was no internal democracy. It was a time for violence and intolerance to end,” he said.

As for Charles Owino, the main issue within ODM has been political violence.

He mentioned that the developments brought by President Ruto are not to persuade them to join UDA but are for the benefit of the local residents and the entire Nyanza region.

However, former Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo blames some of these ‘defectors,’ alleging that they have been inciting violence and unrest within ODM.

Oloo claims that under Prof. Olweny’s leadership, ODM experienced unprecedented corruption in Kisumu, hooliganism, and authoritarian rule like never before.

“Raila made him an MP and assistant minister, a clear sign that the ODM party was the best abode. He had no principles, vision, or direction. God help him on his new journey,” Oloo said.