National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo has blamed the loss of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election on what she described as growing arrogance among leaders championing the broad-based government, saying they failed to listen to the concerns of ordinary Kenyans.
Speaking during a funeral service in Suba North Constituency on Friday, Odhiambo said the outcome of the by-election should serve as a lesson to leaders who have become disconnected from the people they represent. She said the defeat reflected public dissatisfaction and warned against taking voters for granted.
“As a founding member of ODM, I cannot allow us to do the wrong things. Yes, I am in the broad-based government, but even within that arrangement, I will always speak the truth,” she said.
Odhiambo maintained that leaders must remain honest with themselves and responsive to the needs of the electorate, regardless of the political arrangement they serve under.
She argued that the Ol Kalou result could have been different had leaders paid closer attention to the struggles facing Kenyans.
“If we had listened to the people, we would not even have lost Ol Kalou. One of the things I have consistently said is that we are taking the public for granted. We have become very arrogant as leaders. We do not listen to the people, and we do not understand what they are going through. People are suffering.”
Her remarks came as a section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders from Homa Bay County said the Ol Kalou by-election had demonstrated that voters cannot be influenced by bribery or intimidation when casting their ballots.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang echoed the sentiments, saying leaders should stop underestimating the electorate and instead focus on fulfilling the promises they make during campaigns.
According to Kajwang, the legitimacy of any government depends on a development agenda that addresses the needs of citizens rather than tactics aimed at manipulating elections.
"Government will not be formed through bribery. It will not be formed through goonism. It will not be formed through violence. It will not be formed through force. It will be formed through a clear development agenda,” he said.
Kajwang added that ODM's support for the broad-based government is anchored on advancing policies that unite the country and improve the lives of Kenyans.
“The right development agenda is one that brings Kenyans together. That is the reason why we, in the ODM party, have taken the position that we shall advance the agenda of the broad-based government."
The leaders said the Ol Kalou by-election had sent a clear message that voters expect leaders to remain accountable, listen to their concerns and deliver on their promises rather than rely on money, intimidation or political influence to win elections.