Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Odinga has condemned Nyanza politicians using their photos with Raila to claim endorsements.
Ruth said a number of politicians have been jostling to take pictures with Raila, and go ahead to use the pictures to hoodwink voters that they are endorsements ahead of August 2022 general election.
The habit, Ruth said, has seen some of the politicians come up with imaginary lineups ahead of the forthcoming polls, a situation she says is diverting the attention from the ongoing voter registration.
“Being a public figure and a leader in this country, Raila attracts crowds of people who want to pose for photos with him, but these are innocent pictures which should not be misused by a few mischievous politicians to lie to the people that they mean endorsements,” said Ruth.
In an exclusive interview with Lake Region Bulletin, Ruth said the focus now is to mobilize people to register as voters, and not forming non-existent lineups with claims of Raila endorsement.
“Some of these people are even hiring choppers to follow Raila whenever he goes, just to create a perception aimed at substantiating the endorsement claims,” she said.
Ruth rallied leaders to come out and help mobilize for voter listing in a bid to give Raila a strong base ahead of the polls, as the lineup talks will spoil for Raila.
Ruth’s sentiments come amid talks of lineups in all the four Luo Nyanza counties, with sections of politicians claiming their lineups are the ones approved by Raila.
“For me, I have put aside all my ambitions to mobilize people to register as voters. If this endorsement and lineup narratives to not stop then we will have to call out these politicians in public,” said Ruth, adding that those jostling to take pictures with Raila should do it in good faith, and not for coning the public.
