They say power comes to those who have the courage to bend down and pick it. And publicity, whether negative or positive is welcome especially in Kenyan politics.
Okoth Obado, is currently the most famous governor in Kenya, all thanks to his alleged role in the cruel murder of his girlfriend Sharon Otieno.
The governor spend 34 tough days in Industrial Area Police station, eating sukuma wiki and half cooked ugali. At one time, he was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital after falling ill in hospital.
He has been fought by his ODM party at every opportunity, and at one time, MCAs in Migori were even plotting to impeach him while in prison.
The governor came out of prison only to find the EACC on his neck over the alleged loss of more than sh 2 billion from the County coffers.
Your problems can kill you or build you. And in Obado’s case, he is rising gradually from his tribulations and emerging as the next Luo kingpin to replace the exiting Raila Odinga.
ODM party enjoys fanatical support in Luo Nyanza, but looking at the Party’s hierarchy, there is no other Luo leader who can take over the party.
John Mbadi the outspoken party chair and National assembly is from the Suba community. Junet Mohammed, another loyal Raila soldier is not from the community.
Of course we have Hassan Joho, the Deputy Party Leader who is adored in Nyanza but his mobilisation skills are still questionable.
So who will, replace Raila as the Luo Kingpin? James Orengo? The current Senate Minority leader is respected across Nyanza but does he understand grass-root politics? The answer is not clear. He is also in his seventies.
We are left with only one candidate, Okoth Obado. Hated by ODM leadership but loved by his people. Obado has demonstrated that he is an independent person who doesn’t need Baba’s endorsement to lead.
in 2013, he was the only governor in Nyanza not from ODM. He won the gubernatorial sit on a little known People’s Democratic Party ODM’s candidate Oyugi Akong’o, even after the High Court ordered a recount.
In 2017, he joined ODM and went ahead to beat Ochillo Ayacko in the nominations and in the general elections after the latter decided to vie as an independent candidate.
Having started his career as a Physics teacher at Rapogi high school, Obado has established connections in the region that cannot be compared to anyone else. He also knows the problem facing sugar farmers in Nyanza, himself being a farmer and also having worked at the Kenya Sugar board.
All this sets him apart. But does he have what it takes to be the next Jakom?