I’m going for the top seat in 2017, declares Dalmas Otieno

What you need to know:

  • He told a gathering on Saturday that he had the right to vie for any position in the 2017 elections, saying he would go for “the big seat”.
  • A former Cabinet minister in the Kibaki and Moi administrations, Mr Otieno is associated with the formation of Kalausi (whirlwind), a political movement that aims at ending Mr Odinga’s domination of Luo politics.
  • Mr Otieno’s declaration came a day after Mr Odinga warned rebels in ODM to choose between the party and a “failing Jubilee government, which is the most incompetent and arguably the most corrupt the country has ever known”.

Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno has hinted that he will vie for the presidency in the next elections.

This came as a section of ODM MPs asked President Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, to keep off the party’s internal politics.

Mr Otieno, a former Cabinet minister, is one of the ODM lawmakers from Nyanza seen to be in open rebellion against party leader Raila Odinga.

He told a gathering on Saturday that he had the right to vie for any position in the 2017 elections, saying he would go for “the big seat”.

Speaking in Dholuo, he said: “Jothurwa saa osechopo makata an be wadhi manyo kombe madongo go. Wadwani mondo wamii jothurwa telo maber manyalo loko ngimagi (Our people, time has come when I’m also going to vie for the big seat. We want to give our people good governance that can change their lives.”

NOT FIGHTING ODINGA

He clarified that he was not fighting Mr Odinga, saying that all leaders should be given a chance to vie for higher positions.

“I’m not out to destroy any other person’s party, but we expect our people of Luo Nyanza to give all the leaders time to express their views and political ambitions.”

The long-serving MP said he would stir a wave that would “change the political thinking in Nyanza”.

“We are going to redefine the political destiny of Nyanza because we have to change the manner and style of our politics. We have heard enough rhetoric.”

A former Cabinet minister in the Kibaki and Moi administrations, Mr Otieno is associated with the formation of Kalausi (whirlwind), a political movement that aims at ending Mr Odinga’s domination of Luo politics.

Early this year, President Kenyatta appointed Mr Otieno a special envoy to the Sudan peace talks.

POLITICAL WHIRLWIND

Chama to biro. Kalausi ma ilando wachne to en mana nying mar batiso makalo (The party is coming and the whirlwind that is being speculated is just a baptismal name),” he said on Saturday.

The MP said he would continue to speak for “the silent majority” ahead of the elections in 2017.

“I am a crusader and a champion of politics of production and not consumption.

“I am against politics of violence and intimidation, which has now become part of our tradition,” he said in North Sakwa Location, Awendo constituency in Migori County, during the burial of Mr Maricus Obunge.

Another key leader seen to be challenging Mr Odinga’s supremacy in the region is Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

He too has hinted he will vie for presidency.

Mr Otieno’s declaration came a day after Mr Odinga warned rebels in ODM to choose between the party and a “failing Jubilee government, which is the most incompetent and arguably the most corrupt the country has ever known”.

“You are either for us or against us. It can’t be both,” he said as he asked the rebels to either toe the party line or face expulsion.

President Kenyatta responded by indirectly criticising Mr Odinga for threatening his party members who want to cooperate with the government.