Luo community calls for inclusion in Mombasa elective positions

Nov 20, 2023 - 16:59

LUDAC Vice Chairman Gordon Omondi flanked by other members briefs the press at the Uhuru Gardens Mombasa.

Mombasa,

Monday November 20, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

A section of the Luo community in Mombasa is charting a different political course by ditching the ODM party and calling for representation of the community in elective positions.

The move by the Luo allied to the ruling UDA party under Luos in the UDA Caucus (LUDAC) has raffled the feathers of ODM elected leaders in Mombasa who accused them of disrespecting their party leader.

However, they defended their alliance saying it should not be misconstrued as fighting the ODM party leader RailaOdinga.

The caucus has promised to field candidates in all the county elective positions from MCA to the gubernatorial position.

“We want the people of Mombasa to understand we are not here as a community by invitation, nobody invited us, we came and we settled. We will only be voting when we are represented as a community, there will be no voting without representation. We are going to bargain for political leadership positions in this county,” said Gordon Omondi, LUDAC Vice Chairman during a press briefing at Uhuru Gardens, Mombasa.

Omondi decried that his attempt to run for Nyali constituency faced headwinds because of his ethnic community, after he was forced to step down.

“I am speaking here as a victim who was pushed out vigorously. This time we are saying whether it’s ODM or which party when you come to Mombasa you will negotiate with Luo leadership,” said Omondi.

The Luo leadership says they will present the names of their people that they want to compete in election in Mombasa.

“The most active community politically in this county are the Luo people and we are everywhere campaigning,” said Omondi.

LUDAC Secretary General Osumba Oyoo says they want freedom of association and as a community they have a big voting bloc in Mombasa.

“Going forward we will ensure we have representation in Mombasa from the MCA to the Governors,” said Oyoo adding that they will forge alliances with other ethnic communities.

Amina Achieng said they were irked by the sentiments of ODM elected leaders who accused them of disrespecting Raila Odinga.

She said it is their prerogative to associate and champion the community interests.

“As a community, we will be members of any party, we don’t want to destroy ODM it’s for our interest as a community. We will cooperate with Luos in all the parties,” said Achieng.

Courtesy; KNA