Luo elders want Raila to stop six-piece voting pattern calls

Luo Council of Elders Chairman Opiyo Otondi who has told Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga to let voters in Nyanza decide freely whom to vote for instead of pushing for the six-piece voting pattern. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  BARACK ODUOR

What you need to know:

  • The elders want Nasa presidential campaigns in Nyanza to be conducted cautiously to avoid possible falling-out.
  • Mr Otondi condemned the chaos that broke out during a political rally attended by Mr Odinga at Aram Market in Rarieda.
  • At the same time, the elder called for tolerance among politicians from the area during campaigns.

The Luo Council of Elders has told Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga to let voters in Nyanza decide freely whom to vote for.

This comes after Mr Odinga called for a six-piece voting pattern during his Siaya tour on Monday.

“We understand the residents of this region, especially the Luo, (and we) know how they will vote.

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"They should be left to freely decide whether to go for the six-piece voting pattern or not,” the council’s chairman, Mr Opiyo Otondi, told Nation by phone.

The elders want Nasa presidential campaigns in Nyanza to be conducted cautiously to avoid possible falling-out among the coalition’s supporters in the region.

SPOIL CHANCES

Mr Otondi said that if chaos erupts during the coalition’s presidential campaigns, Mr Odinga’s chances of clinching the top seat are likely to be dented.

He condemned the chaos that broke out during a political rally attended by Mr Odinga at Aram Market in Rarieda Constituency, Siaya County on Monday.

He said such scenes may make other communities that have shown willingness to back the opposition leader’s bid withdraw their support.

He noted that the infighting among Nasa supporters should be treated with a lot of care as it is detrimental to Mr Odinga’s efforts to win the presidency.

“Leaders and residents from other communities have pledged their support for Mr Odinga yet we are washing our dirty linen in public,” said Mr Otondi.

TOLERANCE

At the same time, the elder called for tolerance among politicians from the area during campaigns.

Admitting that recent ODM primaries were shambolic, Mr Otondi urged disgruntled independent candidates who lost in the elections to tame their anger for the sake of peace.

The council’s Homa Bay branch secretary, Mr Joram Okola, concurred with Mr Otondi and suggested that the call for the six-piece voting pattern should be immediately dropped in Nasa presidential rallies as it is the cause of chaos.

“Supporters and candidates of other Nasa affiliate parties feel they are being side-lined through the call for the six-piece voting pattern. It should be stopped for the good of the coalition,” said Mr Okola.

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