• Wandayi said all candidates interested in winning the ticket must rely on their development record.
• He rejected endorsement of aspirants before party primaries.
Image: DICKENS WASONGA
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who pulled out of the Siaya governor's race, says he will not support any aspirant for the ODM ticket for county boss.
Only the winner of the ODM primaries, the party candidate.
He spoke at Sango Primary School on Friday where he commissioned a Sh1.9 million water project.
Wandayi said all aspirants will have to rely on their development records if they want ODM's nomination.
He is ODM’s director of political affairs.
The ODM legislator told aspirants not to cling to ODM leader Raila Odinga's coattails in hopes of getting the party's ticket.
“I will not support any camp.They should not depend on Raila. Just as I'll be seeking reelection based on my track record, let all aspirants do the same," Wandayi said.
The MP urged ODM supporters to scrutinise those seeking their votes.
“Deal with them [substandard aspirants] in the party nomination. I’ll not back any camp or candidate. I’ll only bank on my track record. We don’t want the issue of endorsement before the party nominations,” he said.
Siaya Senator James Orengo and former police spokesman Charles Owino are the main ODM contenders for the Siaya governor's seat.
Former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo who contested the last elections as an independent candidate will carry MDG's flag in the race this time.
On Friday, Wandayi told independent candidates not to dupe the electorates that they have links with ODM .
Independent candidates and those vying on other parties tickets in Nyanza have in the past invoked links with Raila to give themselves more credibility.
“ODM will only have coalitions with other parties outside Nyanza. If you are not in ODM in this region, then we consider you our opponents,” he said.
The MP is also ODM’s director of political affairs.
On national politics, Wandayi told Deputy President William Ruto to stop inciting Kenyans and discrediting the government.
“You must stop creating a wedge between the people and the government that you are part of,” he said.
He claimed Ruto has no agenda or track record and was only concentrating on discrediting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
He has already sensed defeat and has panicked, resorting to inciting people as he lays the ground to oppose 2022 results [which he will lose],” he said.
Wandayi warned the DP's allies against intimidating Cabinet Secretaries and the IEBC.
“Ask your foot soldiers to stop writing endless letters to Cabinet Secretaries and the IEBC. Focus on your campaigns without interfering with the government officials and constitutional Institutions,” he said.
"The signs are clear our party leader is in this race alone because his [Raila's] opponents have no agenda. We want Ruto to come out and tell us his track record.
"What has he done while in government?" he asked.
Development projects being implemented in Nyanza wouldn’t be possible without the truce — the handshake between Uhuru and Raila," he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)