- Boga, who recently resigned the Agriculture Principal Secretary position to join politics, said he is the most popular aspirant.
- Boga’s sentiments comes days after ODM national leadership said they will issue direct tickets to the most popular aspirants.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
Kwale governor aspirant Hamadi Boga has asked the ODM party to hand him the direct nomination ticket.
Boga, who recently resigned the Agriculture Principal Secretary position to join politics, said he is the most popular aspirant.
Others seeking the ODM ticket include Chai Lung'anzi, county Speaker Sammy Ruwa and Agnes Zani.
"I don't know what we are waiting for, I would advise the party to settle for me because I’m the strongest candidate," he said.
Boga was speaking on Friday at Last Moran Hotel in Ukunda when he received supporters of Lung’azi, who decamped to his team.
Boga said he has gained massive grassroots support and he is fit to ensure victory for the ODM on August 9.
“If elections were held today, I’m not worried because the electorates have already accepted me and believe I will change Kwale,” Boga said.
Previously, Boga, Ruwa and Lung’azi had vowed to back and support whoever wins the ODM primaries.
Almasi Dola, who was Lung’azi’s Msambweni team chairman, said they have decided to join the Boga’s team after realising he is the strongest candidate.
He said they arrived at the decision after conducting a thorough political analysis.
“We have had some surveys that show Boga is heading in the right direction,” Dola said.
He said Boga will address the issues of unemployment, hunger and poverty.
Boga’s sentiments comes days after ODM national leadership said they will issue direct tickets to the most popular aspirants.
The party said it will conduct a scientific opinion poll to determine the popularity of their candidate.
However, in regions where there is stiff competition, the candidates will have to go through a popular vote in the primaries.
Whoever will win the ODM ticket in Kwale will face veteran politician Chirau Mwakere, Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani and Gereza Dena.
Achani, who is vying on the UDA ticket, enjoys the support of Governor Salim Mvurya.
In January, Mvurya was made Kenya Kwanza Alliance principal by Deputy President William Ruto at Kinarini in Matuga when they toured the county to popularise their union
Since then Mvurya and Lunga-Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani have been working to lock out ODM in Kwale.
However, Boga said ODM still popular in Kwale.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)