Is Jakoyo Midiwo the cleanest in the Odinga, Cord fraternity?
ODM MP and minority chief whip in parliament Jakoyo Midiwo came to parliament in 2007 when he was elected to represent Gem Constituency in the chaotic suffrage.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) member is an ardent debater and rarely misses in parliament. He could possibly be the only MP in ODM who cannot be singled out for any corrupt dealing.
I could be wrong.
Washington Jakoyo Midiwo has had to fight to distance himself from allegations that he is a Jubilee mole where he, in turn, accused everyone in ODM of being a mole if indeed he was.
This happened after nominated MP Oburu Oginga sensationally claimed that Midiwo was a mole. He cited various meetings and phone calls between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said there was no way he could be a Jubilee mole given his position in the party and the resources he has put to developing the ODM party.
Midiwo went to Ndori Primary School after which he proceeded to Sawagongo High School.
Despite there being not a lot of info on his personal life in the public, he is listed as a Technical Supervisor - Software Implementation of Bell Atlantic Phone Company.
In December 2013, controversial politician Miguna Miguna said that Midiwo used to be a taxi driver in New York and that without blood relationship with the Odinga’s, he would be nothing.
Miguna Miguna said that Midiwo managed to go abroad for further education courtesy of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He allegedly lived in New York for more than ten years driving taxis.
“Midiwo later returned to Kenya without anything to show for having lived in the US for more than a decade. Without his blood relationship to the Odinga's, he would be a total failure. Yet he behaves as if he is Einstein!” he said then as quoted by Jukwaa.com.
In March this year, Midiwo told parliament that he does not borrow money from Kenyan banks.
Midiwo, who was speaking during the second reading of the Banking Amendment Bill 2015, called the banks 'scandalous' accusing them of stealing from Kenyans through their high lending charges.
The Bill is now in operation and banks have been forced to review their interest rates downward much to the chagrin of the institution’s leadership.
During his contribution to the Bill, he stated, "I hate Kenyan banks".
He questioned huge profits by multi-national banks in the country yet the same establishments in other countries were making losses.
In August this year, Midiwo introduced a motion seeking to form a committee to investigate gambling but it was shot down. He alleged that the gambling industry was enabling tax evasion and money laundering.
After the motion failure, he accused his colleagues who rejected the motion claiming they had been compromised.
MPs had formed an 11-member joint committee to look into gambling which has more than five million Kenyans hooked.
Midiwo and national assembly majority leader Aden Duale were to co-chair the committee.
The MP was tackling one of the most lucrative industries in Kenya minting billions and affording the luxury of sponsoring European football clubs. His intention to tame this industry could be a pointer that he could be incorruptible despite being a loud mouth in some quarters.
So, is Midiwo the ‘mweupe kama pamba’ politician Kenyans could be looking for to rid them of bad leadership?