Apologise now, Luo elders tell man who spoke at Jubilee rally

By MAURICE KALUOCH
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Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi speaks Jubilee coalition’s thanksgiving prayer rally for the Ocampo Six at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on April 16, 2016. Now a group of elders from Homa Bay have disowned him saying his not the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP   

Summary

• Led by veteran politician Elisha Akech Chieng, the elders warned Mzee Ongadi to stop posing as the Luo spokesman.
• During the rally at Afraha Stadium, Mzee Ongadi was introduced as the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders.
• A furious Mzee Chieng said Mzee Ongadi attended the Nakuru rally in his private capacity and not as a representative of the elders.
• Leadership wrangles have for several years rocked the Luo council of elders with three different camps claiming legitimacy.

The elders now want Mr Ongadi to apologise for causing them “embarrassment.”

A section of Luo elders from Homa Bay County have disowned Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi who recently attended Jubilee coalition’s thanksgiving prayer rally for the Ocampo Six at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.
The elders now want Mr Ongadi, who introduced himself during the rally as the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders, to apologise to the community for causing them “embarrassment.”
Led by veteran politician Elisha Akech Chieng, the elders warned Mzee Ongadi to stop posing as the Luo spokesman.
IMPOSED HIMSELF
“As Luo elders, we do not recognise Mzee Ongadi because we never elected him. He imposed himself after the death of the late Riaga Ogalo,”he said.
Mzee Ongadi was in December 2015 installed by a group of elders outside Alaw Rachuonyo hall during a function in which he demanded that Cord leader Raila Odinga meet with them (elders) or forget the presidency.
During the rally at Afraha stadium, Mzee Ongadi was introduced as the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders and went ahead to endorse President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership.
On Wednesday, a furious Mzee Chieng said Mzee Ongadi attended the Nakuru rally in his private capacity and not as a representative of elders from the community.
TEST HIS POPULARITY
“No elder sat at a meeting and endorsed Mzee Ongadi to represent them during the thanksgiving rally,” he added.
Mzee Chieng dared Mzee Ongadi to convene a meeting of Luo elders to test his popularity “if he is man enough.”
He also warned him against dragging the name of Mr Odinga [into his agenda] by claiming that he risked losing the presidency if he does not bring the Luo community together.
“Mr Odinga is not just a Luo leader because he commands respect from all corners of the country,” he added.
The former chairman of the defunct South Nyanza County Council hinted that they would soon meet as elders from the entire Luo Nyanza to discuss Mzee Ongadi’s conduct.
Leadership wrangles have for several years rocked the Luo council of elders with three different camps claiming legitimacy.
They include one led by Mzee Willis Opiyo Otondi who happens to enjoy recognition by Mr Odinga and Mzee Ongadi who was installed by a group of elders in December 2015.
A former chief, Mzee Calvince Ariko Adoyo, also claims to be the legitimate chairman of the elders’ council because he has the certificate from the Registrar of Societies.