The Luo Council of Elders has dismissed claims that it endorsed a new political kingpin for the Luo community following the demise of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, insisting that recent reports are based on misinformation.
Council chairman Odungi Randa firmly refuted allegations that the elders had settled on Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi as Raila’s successor.
Randa clarified that the delegation’s visit to Wandayi’s rural home in Ugunja, Siaya County, earlier in the week was not a political endorsement.
“We have so many people who want to be the kingpin, but we have not endorsed anyone,” Randa stated.
“Take it from me, as the ‘ker’ (leader) of the Luo. If you hear that we endorsed anyone, that is a fabrication. There is no kingpin in the Luo community after the passing of Raila Odinga,” he continued.
The meeting was attended by ODM party leader Oburu Odinga, members of the Luo Council’s national executive, Siaya-based elders, several MPs, including Aduma Owuor, Moses Omondi, Onyango Oyoo, Elisha Odhiambo, Gideon Ochanda, and Antony Oluoch, as well as MCAs and church leaders.
The gathering had been widely interpreted as a strategic move to position Wandayi as the next Luo political torchbearer, an interpretation the elders now term inaccurate.
Scramble for Influence
The debate over who will step into Raila’s shoes intensified in recent months with several leaders making visible moves that analysts interpret as attempts to court the Luo base.
During the November 27 by-election campaigns, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga’s image appeared on posters of ODM aspirants, sparking talk that she is seeking greater national visibility within the community.
At the same time, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has been holding a series of rallies across the Nyanza region as he seeks to widen his influence and shape his political future.
Despite the rising political wrangles, the Luo Council of Elders maintains that the community is yet to rally behind any single figure.
