Luo Elders Divided Over Tuju Presidency Bid
Sep 06, 2011 (Menafn - Nairobi Star/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --Members of the Luo Council of Elders have expressed divergent opinions on whether to welcome Raphael Tuju's presidential ambitions or rubbish them. The elders argued that discussing Tuju's bid for presidency will create an impression that he has political clout.
Chairman Willis Otondi said the council will meet this week to discuss the announcement . "After our meeting we will later extend an invitation to meet with him where we will give him our opinion on behalf of the community and also hear from him what his reasons are on the presidency," he said. A member of the council from Rachuonyo South Odak Mbaka differed with Otondi over inviting Tuju for a meeting.
Elder Okinyi Rawo also dismissed Tuju's candidature as inconsequential describing him as a project of the G7 Alliance which has no political base. "He is of no political consequence at all. The best is to assume his candidature," said Rawo.
Otondi said inasmuch as it is Tuju's democratic right to contest any position in the country, as a community it is equally imperative to unite for one goal without splitting the votes. "As elders from the community we can't deny anybody including Tuju from running for any seat, but it is quite fundamental to evaluate the reason behind such candidatures, because some are meant to undermine our target," he said.
He said those behind Tuju's candidature are only scheming to scuttle Prime Minister Raila Odinga votes because Tuju knows very well that he can't win. "Tuju has just been sent to cause disunity in the community and should not be tolerated because he knows very well what the public opinion is. His resignation is suspicious, he is not serious, if he were he would have concentrated on his job as presidential adviser," Otondi said.
The difference in the mainstream Luo council of elders group was also extended to the splinter group where group of elders differed with the decision by the embattled Luo council of elders chairman Riaga Ogallo to endorse Tuju presidency.
Yesterday, elders Adera Osawa and Dorothy Awino maintained that Luo council is a non-political organisation adding that they would only support a candidate of a dominant party at the last minute to the elections.
Mzee Adera who is also the secretary of Riaga's faction said each candidate has a democratic right to contest but, "as elders we are not supposed to involve in campaigns for specific individuals,"
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