Politicians eyeing various elective posts in Homa Bay should mobilise residents to register as voters, Governor Cyprian Awiti has said.
He said the county is seeking to register more than 100,000 people ahead of the 2022 general election.
Awiti said mobilising residents to be listed as voters would boost ODM leader Raila Odinga’s chances of becoming the next president.
The governor told all aspirants and elected leaders in the county to focus on the bigger picture, which is Raila’s presidency.
“Let us focus on the presidential race because it is the most important aspiration which can help our people if achieved,” Awiti said.
He spoke during the burial of Serifina Okoth Oriko, the mother of Homa Bay Finance executive Nicholas K’Oriko.
Awiti was with his deputy Hamilton Orata, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga and the county secretary Isaiah Ogwe.
Orata urged residents to avoid being too excited with Raila’s presidential bid and fail to participate in the electoral process.
He said some people become so excited that they do not vote because they believe Raila has already won the seat.
“Let us stop this slogan of gini wasekao (we have won this seat). This excitement prevents some people from voting, hence it hampers our efforts in achieving the desired objective,” Orata said.
Magwanga told elected leaders in the area to stop early campaigns and focus on voter registration.
“It is not yet campaign time. We should shelve our personal interests and mobilise residents to register for national IDs and voters cards,” Magwanga said.
Ogwe told politicians from the region to stop concentrating on county seats.
He said veteran politicians should help Raila in seeking votes outside Nyanza region.
“We used to have Mark Too, who was nicknamed ‘Mr Fix It’ for being an instrumental politician in President Daniel Moi’s campaigns. It is unfortunate that those who are supposed to be Raila’s 'Mr Fix It' are concentrating in counties in which they are eyeing gubernatorial positions,” Ogwe said.
He said the governor's post has less impact compared to the presidency.
Edited by A.N
