Homa Bay ODM candidates have been warned against slowing down their campaigns after securing tickets.
County party chairperson and governor candidate Gladys Wanga with her running mate Oyugi Magwanga want ticket bearers to conduct serious grassroot campaigns to be elected on August 9.
Wanga said there was a lot of propaganda going round the county that ODM and its candidates have lost popularity following the manner in which they secured tickets.
The woman representative said she has also been accused of interfering with the county party primaries conducted on April 14 after she was handpicked as the Homa Bay ODM governor candidate.
“Let’s not sleep on our ears anymore if we want to overcome all the propaganda against us. We must be strategic in campaigns for us to win and bring back the party support,” Wanga said.
Speaking when she presided over the party delegates meeting, which was also attended by candidates in Homa Bay town on Monday, Wanga called on residents to forget the past and unite behind ODM.
ODM has been struggling to maintain its popularity in the county past its primaries after several aspirants decamped to run as independents claiming they were shortchanged.
The county has eight constituencies and 40 wards. Currently, each parliamentary nominee on ODM ticket is facing at least two independent candidates in their constituencies.
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero set the pace of going it alone for Homa Bay governor seat after he protested the nomination of Wanga.
The same is happening at ward level, where at least three aspirants are contesting against the ODM party candidate.
ODM is perceived as the dominant party in Homa Bay because its ticket holders get overwhelming votes during elections.
“We must not stumble in our cause to win governor, senator, woman rep, MPs and all MCA seats in the forthcoming elections. Party officials must work seamlessly with candidates to achieve this,” Wanga said.
Magwanga warned the candidates against premature celebrations on grounds that having the ODM ticket does not necessarily mean they have won August 9.
The former Kasipul MP gave the examples of Ugenya MP David Ochieng and Shakil Shabir of Kisumu Town East who won their seats against ODM candidates in their constituencies.
“Don’t indulge in early celebrations just because you have the ODM ticket. Our grassroot campaign committees must do thorough voter mobilisation to win elections,” Magwanga said.
The meeting was also attended by Homa Bay woman rep nominee Joyce Osogo and MPs Martin Owino (Ndhiwa) and Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul).
Obara read the resolutions saying they agreed to rally behind Wanga and Magwanga as a team to win all seats they are contesting.
“We’re collaboration to win the 2022 General Election. All leaders here have agreed to support and implement the decisions of the party after polls,” Obara said.
They called for peaceful campaigns to ensure they sell their political agendas.
‘Let’s mobilise people to ensure we vote for Raila Odinga as presidential candidate,” she added.
Edited by Henry Makori
