While every focus was shifted to sensitisation of voter registration during Raila Odinga's coastal tour a group of Luo community leaders in Mombasa met with him on Tuesday to express their frustration over being sidelined by Governor Hassan Ali Joho's government.
The meeting that took place at Jubilee Hall comprised of MCAs, Luo Council of Elders, business people and professionals coming from the community led by outgoing Luo elders chairman in Mombasa Obara Kings and his successor Manoah Obat.
Mikindani MCA Duncan Onyango said the Luo community deserves a bigger stake in Joho's government.
“We had an agreement that we would have a big stake in government because of our vote strength,” he said.
From the votes that were cast in 2013, the Luo community filled Joho's vote basket with 59,018 only Mijikenda community had more than them at 130,484.
However, some of the members in the meeting supported Joho saying he has been loyal and accused those complaining as persons seeking personal gains.
“Joho has stood by us through thick and thin,” said a supporter identified as Rambo.
The Mikindani MCA, however, challenged Joho's loyalty by saying that some of the Luo community leaders were sacked for no good reasons.
“Tubman Otieno, Thaddeus Rajwayi, Joab Tumbo, Alome Achayo, Christine Atego, Walter Oselu, Martin Odhiambo, Charles Suji, among others, were all sacked for no good reason,” he said.
Onyango said the community is now divided into three groups supporting Joho, and governor hopefuls Hezron Awiti (Nyali MP) and Hassan Omar (Senator).
They assured Raila that they will support his presidential bid but they are not ready for a 3 piece voting.
However, the opposition chief urged the community to remain united.
“The Swahili say the fight of grasshoppers is the joy of the crow,” Raila said as he urged the community to remain united.
In a quick rejoinder, Mombasa county director of communication Richard Chacha dismissed the claims that the county had sidelined any community.
“The Luo are big stakeholders in this county. They have been with us and we carry them along as we move on,” he said.