Man Who Defied the gods of Luo Nyanza Politics — Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo Akuba

Ask any resident of Gem Constituency to make comparisons between the former and present Members of Parliament and the response is always instantaneous: one was a bully with Nairobi as his playground, and the other was a bully who works at the home ground.

The bully element they say is a basic qualification of any indigenous child born in Gem, as for the latter’s influence on the ground it goes without question that current MP Elisha Odhiambo Akuba is a force to reckon with.

Mr Elisha Odhiambo Akuba stepped into the murky waters of Gem Constituency politics in 2017.  At that time Jakoyo Midiwo had fallen out with his political godfather in the Odinga family and as a way to bring him back to his senses, they let him campaign without their support against the immensely popular Elisha Odhiambo. [Insiders claim that Jakoyo’s only sin was to support the national government on projects that favoured Luo Nyanza and vote with the Jubilee Party on the same].

The outcome was obvious: Elisha trounced Jakoyo at the nominations with 13,400 votes to 8,900 votes. That was the beginning of a spiralling upward journey which has seen Elisha today become a household name in Luo Nyanza politics.

Before he joined politics Mr. Odhiambo worked in the private sector as a Director at Inspirations Management Consultancy.

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He is a life member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party which has lately expelled him and others dubbed State House “rebels” only to be reinstated by court order.

He is among the youthful crop of Siaya politicians who went to Parliament in 2017, striking an early friendship with Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Onunga Atandi with whom they were often seen partying during their first term in Parliament. The duo would later fall out on principle over the irregular allocation of tenders in the Siaya County Governmen9t.

Elisha’s problems began when together with the late Education CS Prof Mogoha they openly criticized the Orengo administration over corruption in the award of tenders, particularly to foreigners. The ODM Party, Siaya branch would call him to order but a typical headstrong Gem denizen, he overrode their calls.

The people of Gem have a fanatical liking for his ebullient, often hardstand mannerisms. The nickname Akuba has connotations of a rebel even before he went to the State House.

Time and again Elisha has proved his popularity on the home turf by licking the ODM Party in local contests such as when he supported an independent candidate in the Gem South Ward against the party and won.

Recently the ODM Party national infrastructure has targeted the Gem Constituency for hastily planned development projects but on the ground Akuba’s name still causes tremors.

Elisha graduated with a Masters Degree in Organizational Development from the United States International University (USIU-Africa) in 2015.

Between 2004-2008 he was a full-time student at the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A), Human Resources Management and Services. His undergraduate degree was a bachelor’s of Education (Arts) from Kenyatta University in 1990.

As a Director at Inspirations Management Consultancy, he handled management of business development, enhancement of new business segments, driving revenue growth, human resource consulting, management of business leaders and providing coaching and mentorship for staff.

He is what is called in the industry a Human Capital Advisor.

Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo Akuba is married with several children. He is mum about the extent of his property and investments.

The only thing he cannot hide is a burning desire to one day become the Secretary-general of his beloved political party — ODM.