Kadika community in Migori County has officially appointed Elijah Rongisi as their ‘Ogai’ (community spokesperson and representative) to the Suba Council of Elders. 

The election, hosted at the Nyamware Community Center and spearheaded by local leader Dickson Odie, marks a historic turning point for a population seeking a unified voice.

By formally filling this traditional office, the community aims to establish a structured bridge between its people, regional elders, and government authorities to actively demand socio-economic advancement.

Roles of Ogai

To outside observers, the title of ‘Ogai’ might sound like a purely ceremonial designation, but within the fabric of the community, it represents a vital lifeline.

Speaking immediately after the election, Dickson Odie deeply underscored the fundamental importance of having an Ogai, explaining that the position serves as the community’s primary shield against socio-economic marginalization.

“Today we came here at Nyamware Center to elect our representative in the Suba Council of Elders by the name Ogai,” Odie explained adding that “Ogai in Suba means a representative of a community.”

According to Odie, the true importance of the Ogai lies in their power to advocate, negotiate, and secure a seat at the table where resources are distributed.

Without this figurehead, an entire community risks becoming invisible to the state and non-governmental entities. 

He lamented that the Kadika community had previously suffered a severe leadership vacuum, leaving them completely cut off from development projects and employment opportunities.

“We are really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel because always when they are recruiting youth for various jobs, we don’t get those opportunities because we lack an Ogai,” Odie stated . 

“There is nobody who goes there to negotiate for us. From today, we will have somebody who will be representing us, who will be taking our problems to the relevant authorities so that they can be solved.”

Without an Ogai, a community lacks a collective voice to demand its fair share of national and regional development. The presence of an Ogai ensures equal representation, allowing a marginalized group to progress alongside neighboring communities.

Cultural representation vs. political ambition

The timing of the election has raised eyebrows with some viewing it as a strategic move to consolidate a voting bloc ahead of the upcoming polls.

However, both Odie and the newly elected Ogai, Elijah Rongisi, strongly denied any partisan motives, emphasizing that the role transcends politics.

“It is not political at all,” Odie clarified. “Ogai is a representative of our people who will be representing our interest. We don’t rule out negotiating with any politician if he comes to talk to us but we are not affiliated to any politician”.

Rongisi, a former political aspirant, echoed these sentiments, assuring his critics that his new role would not be used to further personal political ambitions.

Instead, he promised to focus on the immediate cultural and organizational importance of his office uniting the Kadika people, who are currently scattered across Suna East, Suna West, and Nyatike constituencies.

“My key priority is establishing an office that has never been there. First we will have to create structures,” Rongisi stated. “After doing the structures, we will do mapping to see where the people of Kadika are. With that, we will then bring unity.”

The election coincided with the second anniversary of the country’s historic Gen Z protests, a point that was not lost on the leaders.

Rongisi took the opportunity to commend the youth of the Luo Nyanza region, particularly in Migori, for choosing dialogue over violent confrontation in recent months.

“I want to join my fellow leaders in the country to condole with families who lost their loved ones on a day like this, two years ago,” Rongisi said.

“For the people of Migori and the entire Nyanza, I think it is a new wave where we embrace dialogue instead of going out in the streets.”

He urged the youth to remain peaceful as the election season approaches, reminding them that alternative dispute resolution is enshrined in the constitution. “Let us give dialogue an opportunity,” he urged.

As the Kadika community celebrates its new leadership, all eyes will be on Rongisi to see how he handles the heavy responsibility of being an Ogai, balancing cultural preservation with the inevitable pressures of regional development and politics.