Homa Bay governor hopeful Gladys Wanga received a boost in her bid after two MPs endorsed her candidature.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and his Rangwe counterpart Lilian Gogo said they will begin campaigning for Wanga.
Kaluma said they were waiting for the dust to settle after the highly contested ODM nominations to embark on the campaign trail.
Kaluma and Gogo spoke on Wednesday during a women's conference organised by Wanga and presided by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential running mate Martha Karua in Homa Bay town.
Kaluma said they are going to re-strategise their campaigns to ensure all ODM candidates get elected in the August 9 polls.
The legislator said they are no longer going to leave Wanga to campaign alone in their constituencies.
“A lot of things have happened in Homa Bay after the party nominations. But today we are starting the process of campaigning to get votes for Wanga and other ODM nominees,” Kaluma said.
Apart from Wanga, other ODM candidates vying for top county seats include Moses Kajwang (Senate) and Joyce Osogo (woman representative).
The three have been experiencing a rough in Homa Bay as they rallied residents to vote in a six-piece format in favour of the orange party.
A number of aggrieved aspirants decamped to go independent with many claiming that they were shortchanged by the party during the primaries.
Kaluma, Gogo and Millie Odhiambo of Suba North were also given direct tickets.
Homa Bay is perceived as an ODM stronghold because all eight MPs, woman representative, governor and senator were elected under the party ticket.
Out of 40 wards, 38 MCAs were voted on the party ticket in the 2017 general election.
The primaries also angered ODM national chairman and Suba South MP John Mbadi, who said he would not be involved in the Homa Bay county campaigns.
Mbadi was also seeking the ODM gubernatorial ticket for Homa Bay but was urged to step down after the party gave Wanga a direct ticket.
Kaluma commended ODM for nominating Wanga saying the move is a clear demonstration of the party's commitment to implementing the two-thirds gender rule.
“Homa Bay is an ODM zone and we're going to be fully involved in grassroots campaigns to achieve the six-piece voting format and win majority seats in parliament and county assembly,” Kaluma said.
The conference was also attended by MPs Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), Adipo Okuome (Karachuonyo), Mbadi (Suba South), Martin Owino (Ndhiwa), Ongondo Were (Kasipul) and Governor Cyprian Awiti and his deputy Hamilton Orata.
Gogo supported Wanga's nomination and urged residents to stand with ODM candidates.
She said no one should discriminate Wanga based on her maternal home because since she is married in Homa Bay she is equaly a daughter of the county.
“We must vote for all ODM candidates in this election to give our presidential candidate Raila Odinga the numbers he needs in the bicameral parliament and county assemblies to actualise the Azimio manifesto,” Gogo said.
Obara asked women in Homa Bay to stand with Wanga in the August elections. She said women leadership has become a global agenda and the county should not be left behind.
"As Homa Bay women, we must use our numerical strength to make Wanga our next governor," Obara said.
Wanga has been facing stiff competition from former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, who is seeking the seat on an independent ticket.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
