Siaya Senator James Orengo has appealed to the ODM party to allow potential candidates from the region to vie for elective positions without restrictions.
Orengo said considerations like regional balancing has locked out potential leaders from seeking various positions in the county.
In 2013, ODM party leadership in the region agreed in principle that Alego/Usonga constituency produces the first governor. The position would then rotate to Ugenya, Ugunja, Gem, Bondo and Rarieda constituencies.
Orengo spoke on Saturday at Kaugagi village, Alego/Usonga constituency during the burial of Lawrence Oduol, the father of 2013 Siaya governorship candidate William Oduol.
The senator said that a skewed nominations process had made the preferred choice of the electorates be shortchanged for unpopular candidates in past elections.
"ODM nominations has been a problem. Let whoever wants to vie for any position in Siaya be allowed to do so,” Orengo said.
The former Ugenya MP is eyeing the Siaya governor seat in 2022. Others who have expressed interest are Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), Dan Omoro (Alego/Usonga) and MP Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja).
Already Orengo has rallied MPs Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Sam Atandi (Alego/Usonga), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Christine Ombaka (Woman Rep) behind his bid.
Gumbo, who rolled out a fierce campaign against incumbent Governor Cornel Rasanga, still has the team that supported his bid intact.
Speaking during the funeral, Gumbo did not rule out the possibility of making a comeback in 2022.
He asked the electorate to pray for the leaders and urged them to give current officials time to deliver on their campaign pledges.
(edited by O. Owino)
