• “Let ODM candidates engage in vigorous campaigns and win support of the people. Politics is about democratic competition and not restricting opponents,” he said.
• It has been claimed that Raila procrastinated his campaign in Nyanza due to political rows among Azimio politicians.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
@robertomollo3
ODM chairman John Mbadi has defended himself against continued criticism that he is not supporting the party's six-piece vote call across its Nyanza stronghold.
The Suba South MP has been accused of sabotaging the party from within by urging residents to elect candidates of their choice within the larger Azimio coalition.
Mbadi, who spoke to reporters on Monday in Homa Bay town, said some people take him out of context when he does not support six-piece vote call.
“Let ODM candidates engage in vigorous campaigns and win support of the people. Politics is about democratic competition and not restricting opponents,” he said.
The legislator asked ODM candidates to engage in non-discriminatory campaigns.
He said he is aware that some candidates especially those running on independent tickets decamped from ODM because of incredible party primaries but were still supporting Raila for president.
The chairman asked ODM candidates to campaign just like their colleagues in other Azimio-One Kenya affiliate parties.
He said his focus is on the presidential campaigns.
“As Nyanza campaign team, we're focusing on voter turnout on elections day. We don't want to discriminate against other candidates supporting Raila just because ODM is dominant in Nyanza,” Mbadi said.
He said they do not want Raila to be involved in political rivalries between ODM candidates and other Azimio-One Kenya affiliate parties.
Nyanza is perceived as ODM's stronghold with all the six governors, senators and five out of six woman representatives elected on the party ticket in 2017.
Majority of MPs and MCAs were also elected on the party ticket across the Nyanza counties of Kisumu, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Migori, Kisii and Siaya.
ODM leader Raila Odinga hails from the region and is making a fifth stab at the presidency in the forthcoming August 9 General Election.
Raila is running on the Azimio coalition ticket but has urged his Nyanza backers to vote for ODM candidates.
More than 20 political parties are in the coalition and majority have sponsored candidates across the six counties.
While the Azimio affiliates are backing Raila for president, their candidates are giving their ODM opponents sleepless nights on the campaign trail.
The ODM opponents have rejected the six-piece vote calls and urged the electorate to vote only for able leaders regardless of their party affiliation.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
ODM candidates were expecting Mbadi to support calls for six-piece voting but the three-term lawmaker says he will not discriminate against other Azimio La Umoja candidates.
Mbadi who is not vying in the coming elections is heading the Raila Nyanza campaign steering committee alongside Governors James Ongwae (Kisii) and Anyang Nyong'o of Kisumu.
But Mbadi remarks have created uproar with some elected leaders and ODM officials in Nyanza castigating him.
Kisumu woman representative Rosa Buyu said Mbadi should stop confusing Nyanza residents because of his personal interest.
Buyu told the national chairman to separate ODM and Azimio-One Kenya.
She said Mbadi has been the biggest beneficiary of ODM popularity in Nyanza.
“Tell us what you want instead of whining and bringing confusion in ODM. Mbadi should run on his lane and stop discrediting party candidates because we know his name tops the list of those who will be nominated as MP after August 9 polls,” Buyu said.
Siaya ODM officials led by George Aloo Kanda asked Mbadi to resign if he does not want the party sponsored candidates to campaign on a six-piece platform.
Kanda said Mbadi sits in the party National Executive Council, the highest organ, where decisions are made.
“The six-piece voting pattern we're calling in Nyanza region must have been discussed in an ODM NEC meeting. He should resign if he is not comfortable with the party clarion call agenda,” he said.
It has been claimed that Raila procrastinated his campaign in Nyanza due to political rows among Azimio –One Kenya politicians.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)