The Kamba Nation, led by Wiper Party Leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, made a direct and emotional appeal to the Luo Nation and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to return a political favour by supporting Musyoka’s presidential bid in 2027.
The plea was delivered at Opoda Farm, shortly after the leaders laid a wreath at the grave of the late former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
Addressing mourners, Mr. Musyoka framed his appeal as the best tribute to the departed leader, urging the ODM party to maintain its strength and independence.
“The best gift that we can give to the departed gallant soldier, Odinga, is to ensure that the Orange party is not a party to be controlled by anybody,” Musyoka stated, directly cautioning ODM against aligning with those who had previously criticized Odinga.
“The best direction that the ODM party should take is to work together with me and not the direction they are heading.”
Musyoka insisted that Odinga had a clear vision for the country, emphasizing that both ODM and Wiper are large parties with strong grassroots support.
“Let nobody begin lecturing the officials on how to run the party,” he warned.
This sentiment was echoed by the Chairman of the Kamba Council of Elders, Boniface Kilonzo, who equally called upon the Nyanza community to support Musyoka’s national leadership quest.
The call for succession was amplified by Kamba lawmakers present.
Julius Mawathe, the Embakasi South MP, introduced a political metaphor: “We had an older Baba who was Mr. Odinga; he had blessed a younger one who will now lead us to the point we never reached.”
Similarly, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua claimed that Mr. Musyoka carried the late former Prime Minister’s political blessing.
“The one friend that Raila had was Kalonzo Musyoka,” Wambua asserted. “I want to tell you that Mr. Musyoka has the full blessing of the late former Prime Minister to take Kenya to the next level.”
Siaya Governor’s Measured Response
The response from the host region was measured but highly supportive. Siaya Governor James Orengo, a long-time political ally of Odinga, lauded the former Vice President, calling him a true friend who walked diligently with Odinga through his political journey.
Governor Orengo recounted instances where Odinga had appeared to pass the mantle to Musyoka. “On more than one occasion I have sat in the same meeting with Kalonzo Musyoka. And three times he has said, ‘nimekuwachia ndugu yangu’ (I have left it for you my brother),” Orengo recalled. He praised Musyoka as a principled man, much like Odinga, even recalling a moment in 2022 when Musyoka said, “‘I leave for you and I don’t need any appointment.'”
Orengo used the moment to pivot to the fundamental principles Odinga fought for: true multi-party democracy and electoral justice. He echoed Musyoka’s plea for party independence.
“My party ODM will not be swallowed. Do not make that mistake of being swallowed by other parties. We need a strong ODM, we need a strong Wiper; not controlled by anybody in power but controlled by the rule of law.”
The Governor concluded with a strong personal defense of the Wiper leader: “I want to see anybody in this country say that he loved Mr. Odinga more than Kalonzo Musyoka.”
