SILLY LIES ABOUT BUDALANGI............. In a misguided scaremongering attempt to intimidate Ababu, some very sorry facebook political analysts have been spreading the propaganda that his Budalangi Constituency is half Luo and in the iron grip of Raila. As a son of Budalangi and a voter in the constituency, I feel obliged to clear this silly perceprion: 1. In 1992, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga ran for President on FORD-Kenya. Just before the elections, Jaramogi had fallen out with James Nakhwanga Osogo, then the pre-eminent son of Budalangi. Osogo returned to KANU to contest the parliamentary seat. Long story short: KANUs Daniel Moi whitewashed Jaramogi in Budalangi, while James Osogo carried the parliamentary seat. PICK s Peter Khabenga Okondo came second, while Jaramogis FORD-K candidate was a distant third. Where was the Luo 50% here? 2. In 1997, Raila himself was on the presidential ballot as NDP candidate, a year after viciously falling out with Kijana Wamalwa, who contested the presidency on the FORD-K ticket. Like his father, Raila performed dismally in Budalangi, gannering less than 300 votes as Wamalwa and Moi ruled the presidential roost. FORD-Ks Raphael Wanjala, then a political nobody, won the seat with KANUs James Osogo coming a very very close second. Railas NDP candidate did not even register on the radar. Where was the Luo 50%? 3. In 2002, Raila then leading LDP within the NARC circuit had zero effect in Budalangi as FORD-Ks Raphael Wanjala successfully defended his seat, while the Kijana Wamalwa touch delivered a majority of the presidential vote to Kibaki. But interestingly, perhaps reflecting Budalangis liberal political mindset, KANUs Uhuru Kenyatta still performed impressively here. Where was the Luo 50%? 4. Fast forward to 2003, and a young, fresh, erudite and intoxicating Ababu Namwamba hit the Budalangi political scene like a typhoon. At that time, with Kijana Wamalwa as Vice-President and Raphael Wanjala as MP, Budalangi was in the iron grip of FORD-K, as indeed was the case in most of Western Kenya. This is the force that a very young Ababu in his 20s rose to confront. His mission was made even more daunting because he was entering the scene under the umbrella of Railas LDP. Given the history of the bloody Wamalwa-Raila duel in FORD-K, being associated with the son of Jaramogi in this part of the world was like marketing pork to muslims. Another factor was a historical angle unknown to many outsiders. In the run up to independence in 1963, Budalangi (Bunyala) was part of a wider constituency represented by Jaramogi in the LEGCO. The locals here never quite felt at ease being represented by a neighbour, and so the creation of their own constituency was widely celebrated as independence, as indeed it was. In a meeting with elders at the start of his political journey, it was made clear to Ababu that the locals were not ready to be recolonised by the house of Jaranogi! But Ababu is Smart. He repackaged Raila and introduced him to Budalangi in little but tactical steps. The first was a historic football game played at Sigomere grounds in Budalangi. Ababu had secured support from the Spanish Real Madrid Foundation for local sports, and invited Raila to launch the program in Budalangi, in a game pitting LDP national leaders vs Budalangi leaders. Clad in the famous all whites of Real Madrid, Raila played the whole game on the same side with Ababu, who scored two goals. They then ate a meal of fish and ugali at Ababus aunt Marthas home in Maumau market. It was the begining of a tactical charm offensive that would work magic. Of course it was all helped by the incredible chemistry between Ababu and Raila. The efforts would go on to turn history on its head in Budalangi in the 2007 polls, as ODMs Ababu trounced FORD-K/PNUs Wanjala. And for the first time in history, an Odinga took majority presidential votes in Budalangi. But interestingly, Kibaki still got a good number of votes too. It was not the imaginary Luo 50%...it was the Ababu effect. In 2013, Raila never stepped in Budalangi to campaign. But still Ababu won with ease, and delivered majority presidential votes to Raila. As a good student of history, I cannot help wondering just how all this would have turned out if Kijana Wamalwa, a victim of Railas violent guerilla politics, had not died in August 2003. Anyways, It is a fact of history that Raila only made inroads into Budalangi after geting a through pass from a super smart local...Ababu Namwamba. It is also a historical fact that while there is some Luo presence in Budalangi, it is of insignificant political effect as demonstrated in real terms throughout history. Budalangi is not a Luo colony, and the Abanyala people are not serfs or servants of Lord Raila. Love him or hate him, Ababu is fast growing into a political colossus. That is why Ababu Namwamba is the hottest trending name now. It is why I have spent so much time on this. And the reason why so many of you WILL respond to this post. Anything ABABU is now both manic, and phobic...and that is political greats are made! PS. My advice to Ababu: stand firm. Ignore those daring you to resign. Resign for what reason? You are not a guest in ODM. You are in ODM by RIGHT not INVITATION. You have helped make the party and Raila. Dont quit. Stay put na ukanyagane proper na hawa dimwits! NIMESEMA!
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 14:12:08 +0000
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