Rongo MP leaves Migori supporters guessing about his plans

With less than a year to the next General Election and political activity intensifying in Migori County, Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno has kept his supporters in the dark about his future plans.

Mr Otieno, the most experienced politician in the region, has not been seen in public in the county for a long time, sparking off speculation on his next move.

The former powerful Cabinet minister has kept a low profile even in national politics and is hardly seen or heard in the media. 

Some of his supporters say their man could be quietly plotting an onslaught on the Migori governor seat, currently held by Mr Okoth Obado.

Others say he will go for the Senate seat while others speculate he will defend his parliamentary seat.

“His political acumen, grassroots networks and aggressiveness will send his rivals back to the drawing board. He is an intelligent man and he knows how to mobilise the masses. His only undoing would be if he vies on another ticket other than ODM, which is the dominant party in the region,” said Mr Lawrence Onyango, a political observer.

The Makerere University- trained economist has been linked to the position of senator, held by Dr Wilfred Machage, who is said to be heading to Jubilee.

In 2014, Mr Otieno announced that he would contest the presidency in 2017. 

He declared that he was going for the highest office in the land to improve the livelihoods of Nyanza residents and the rest of Kenyans.

‘NOT CONSUMPTION’

“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,” Mr Otieno said then in North Sakwa Location, Awendo Constituency in Migori County during the burial of local elder Maricus Obunge. 

He criticised certain leaders for “continuously practising politics of deceit and propaganda” that was not beneficial to the people of the region. 

The Rongo MP rooted for “politics of production” to create jobs for the youth and reduce poverty. 

He later announced the formation of his own party, loosely referred to as Kalausi, (Luo for whirlwind).

And after a while, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him as his special envoy to the South Sudan peace talks. 

The party is coming and the whirlwind that is being speculated is just a baptismal name,” Mr Otieno said then. 

Political scientist Olang Sana of Maseno University at one time argued that Kalausi woulg be out to loosen Mr Odinga’s control over Luo MPs in Nyanza but would not solve problems touching on management of political parties. 

“Kenya needs a national party. Directing all forces against Mr Odinga is a deflection from the real problems facing party politics,” he said. 

Mr Otieno was a close ally of retired President Daniel Moi before joining Mr Odinga and becoming a key adviser. 

But he fell out with Mr Odinga during ODM’s botched elections in which he claimed he was prevented from vying for a senior party position.

After the fallout, Rongo ODM officials tried to expel him from the party but the move “stalled” at Orange House in Nairobi. 

But a close ally of Mr Otieno, Mr Wilson Gichana, told the Nation that the Rongo MP was still active in politics and would defend his seat next year.

“Mr Otieno is still the most popular candidate in this region, but he has not told us if he will contest for another political position,” he said. 

Other sources indicated that Mr Otieno was back in the ODM fold and it was just a matter of time before he started to actively promote ODM ideologies and programmes. 

Efforts to reach the Rongo MP for a comment failed as his phones were off.