- Wanga has been crisscrossing the expansive county to popularise her candidature as the best to take over from Awiti, who is serving second and last term.
- The lawmaker on Monday transversed the vote-rich Karachuonyo constituency where she met residents of Kobuya and Akwakra in Wangchieng ward.
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga has intensified campaigns for her governor bid as the race to succeed the incumbent, Cyprian Awiti, gains momentum.
She has been crisscrossing the expansive county to popularise her candidature as the best to take over from Awiti, who is serving his second and last term.
Wanga—whose slogan is Gladys Wanga Genowa, which translates into Gladys Wanga Our Hope—on Monday transversed the vote-rich Karachuonyo constituency where she met residents of Kobuya and Akwakra in Wangchieng ward.
She was accompanied by a host of MCAs, led by Central Karachuonyo's Julius Gaya, and youth and women leaders.
The lawmaker has lined up a series of activities, including football tournaments for all wards in the county, alongside voter registration.
During the tournament, those who have attained 18 years will be issued with IDs and registered as voters.
On Saturday, Wanga met with more than 150 professionals from the county in Kisumu to woo them ahead of the next general election. They included MCAs, engineers, doctors and business people. Former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo also attended.
Wanga pledged to ensure transparency, accountability, equitable sharing of resources and inclusive governance if elected.
"My track record as a woman rep speaks volumes. I have initiated various projects that support women and youth groups, trade and other economic activities to make our people self-reliant," she said.
She said her campaign is issue-based and pledged to provide better roads, healthcare services, water, agriculture, women and youth empowerment and boost trade, among other projects.
“My priority will be to improve healthcare provision. My plan is to construct a fully fledged 400-bed hospital in Homa Bay for effective service to our people,” Wanga said.
Her handlers and close allies said Wanga, who hails from Rangwe, is keen on picking a running mate from Karachuonyo or Ndhiwa.
Among the eight subcounties, Karachuonyo has the most votes, followed by Ndhiwa. Other subcounties are Homa Bay Town, Kabondo Kasipul, Mbita, Kasipul, Rangwe and Suba.
Homa Bay has 40 elected MCAs and 20 nominated ones.
Wanga will face off against other politicians, including ODM party national chairman John Mbadi, who has also expressed his interest in the post.
Mbadi, who is in his third term as Gwasi/Suba South MP, said he is well placed to succeed Awiti given his political experience.
Wanga, the party’s county chairperson, also said she has traversed the county and is best placed to clinch the seat.
Others who have shown their interest in the seat are former Kasipul Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga, who gave Awiti a run for his money in the 2017 election, and businessman Sam Wakiaga. Both candidates are eyeing the Orange party ticket.
Magwanga, who contested as an independent after ditching ODM following botched primaries, has since rejoined the party.
He believes it is the right time to take over the leadership of the county. Magwanga said he has what it takes to govern the county and initiate development.
Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori and flamboyant businessman Jared Otieno Kiasa are also interested in the seat.
The current county secretary Isaiah Ogwe and Finance minister Nicholas Koriko are also interested in succeeding their boss.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is also interested in the seat. He has been traversing the county to popularise himself. But sources claim he might reconsider running for the Nairobi governor seat.
Kidero, who hails from Asumbi in Rangwe, has been participating in fundraisers and development projects. He has also been giving out cash donations to youth and women groups. His allies believe he has the best chance to succeed Awiti.
-Edited by SKanyara