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BY JEFF OTIENO
The perceived entrenched enmity between Gem MP Jackoyo Midiwo who is also the ODM Chief Whip and an Assistant Minister in the office of the President Joshua Orwa Ojode came to fore last weekend during the burial of Griffins Okeyo(DOC) a son of a Nairobi based business magnet Erick Okeyo in Pap Onditi in Nyakach Constituency.
It all started when the combative Gem MP took the podium and took head on the dissent voices in the region led by two Nairobi based Lawyers George Onyango Oloo and Otieno Weda who were also present.
Midiwo described the duo as quacks who had no business to challenge the Prime Minister on any issue be it Political or Economic. After he concluded his speech, the apparently enraged legislator shouted to the two who were seated next to him saying that “you guys Ojode is cheating you” to the amazement of the mourners who also included the pragmatic Marie Stoppes country Director Cyprian Awiti.
Lands Minister James Orengo who had arrived with Jakoyo on a chopper however played down the growing dissent in the region being aggressively propelled by the two vocal Nairobi lawyers.
It is imperative to note that the two youthful advocates were unsuccessful during previous party polls primaries in their respective Constituencies namely Kisumu Town East and Kisumu Rural. They have been alleging that they were rigged out by cronies of the Prime Minister deliberately among other bureaucratic tenets being condoned by the ODM party leadership.
On their turn, the duo who are also ODM life members vowed to continue with what they termed “Liberation of Luos” whatever the circumstances.
Back to the two legislators, Ojode is a renowned Raila Odinga ally who has withered turbulent waters with him. In the run up to the last elections during a hurried reshuffle, he was given a ministerial flag in a bid to tilt his loyalty, but be declined.
He’s credited for his shrewd political tact but for reasons which shocked many, he wasn’t given a full ministerial docket during the formation of coalition government.
In the larger Southern Nyanza particularly his Ndhiwa Constituency, he has helped split administrative boundaries a move which has made him almost undisputed in the region.
Jakoyo Midiwo by nature is very combative and is also credited for consolidating the PMs Support in the region. So far he has done well but he will have to redouble his rapport and approach with fellow MPs who some argue he’s a little bit pushy and at times takes issues personal.
Contacted for comment by this writer, Ojode said he had no idea why Jakoyo has been fighting him.
“He found me in politics and his schemes to create enmity between me and the Prime Minister won’t work”, Ojode thundered.
It remains to be seen what prompt mechanisms the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga will deploy to reconcile his warring brigades to consolidate his support and bring harmony in readiness for 2012 elections.
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