Opposition leader Raila Odinga seems to be gradually losing his footing in his Luo Nyanza political bedrock, after many years of unwavering support.
Judging by the emerging rebellion in some parts of the region, especially Migori County, and the recent narrow escape in the concluded Migori Senatorial by-election, the leader should consider a change of tact.
In the county, Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party are facing opposition from Governor Okoth Obado who is in office on the ODM ticket.
Similarly, his party narrowly survived in the election which though it took home courtesy of former Cabinet Minister Ochillo Ayacko, Odinga had to camp for two days in the county for the campaigns.
The party would still only beat the little-known Eddy Oketch of the Federal Party of Kenya (FPK) by a margin of 25, 000 votes, contrary to several years back when ODM candidates effortlessly swept majority of the votes in the region.
This is proof that Odinga could be in for more trouble in the near future, and might have to spend more energy campaigning for his party’s candidates in the approaching 2022 general.
It is also probable that some of the seats currently under the party might be snatched by opponents riding on alien blocs, further weakening the veteran politician in both parliaments and the Council of Governors.
And seemingly lacking his initial influence and total rule over the area, this could encourage rival parties, especially the ruling Jubilee Party to launch stronger offensive in the larger Luo Nyanza ahead of the 2022 general elections.
The party has been attempting to make inroads into the region courtesy of Deputy President William Ruto, who is also laying the foundation for his pending presidential bid.
If not careful, Raila might soon find himself thrown out, and the region turned into another person’s bedrock.
To avoid this, he should embark on a popularization campaign if he is to keep the region under his influence, failure to which he will with time lose it completely.
#hivisasaoriginal