Kidero’s dual allegiance queried

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is walking a tightrope over his ostensibly divided support for Cord and Jubilee.

He has on many occasions come out as a fierce opponent of the activities of ODM––the party in Cord that propelled him to power––but appears active in programmes of the national government under Jubilee.

Cord leader Raila Odinga visited his office on June 11 in what is seen as an act of reassurance after the governor was booed when he stood to address the crowd at Mr Odinga’s homecoming rally at Uhuru Park on May 30.

Ironically, Dr Kidero was given a warm reception just a day later when he addressed wananchi at Madaraka Day celebrations presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee at Nyayo Stadium.

The Nairobi governor was conspicuously absent from Cord’s much-publicised Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park on July 7, only to accompany President Kenyatta on an inspection visit of the Lands office.

This is despite the fact that the county boss faces a possible by-election in the event the Supreme Court upholds the Court of Appeal judgement nullifying his election as governor.

There were “Kidero must go” chants by Cord supporters at both the homecoming nd Saba Saba rallies––another sign that Dr Kidero’s popularity among opposition supporters is dwindling.

A day after the Saba Saba rally, he said the country is facing many challenges but they would be sorted out gradually.

He had earlier stated at a funeral in Bondo on Mr Odinga’s home turf that he was against a possible call for mass action by Cord, arguing that such an act would will rip the country apart.

The governor’s foray into Nyanza, where he has been attending fund-raising events, has not been well received by some politicians, who think he is bent on undermining former Prime Minister Odinga and is seeking to edge him out as the kingpin of Luo Nyanza politics.

“ODM is within its right to crack the whip against any of its errant members riding on the fallacy of developing the region yet they are out to achieve their own gains,” Opiyo Wandayi said Ugunja.

But Dr Kidero defends his move: “As a leader of this country, my role is not limited to Nairobi. When other Kenyans invite me to support them, in my capacity as an individual, I will do so without any fear or favour.”

Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura criticised Dr Kidero with a reminder that the governor needs to work with the rest of the team in order to achieve the opposition’s worthy cause.

Mr Wilson Agenya, a diplomacy lecturer at Maseno University, said Nyanza politics must change to accommodate the diverse opinions regional the leaders represent.

He pointed out that ODM, and by extension Cord, still needs the Nairobi seat in order to retain its influence among governors.