• Ongwae, in an angry tirade, singled out Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, a gubernatorial hopeful, for censure over a spate of attacks on his administration and him as a county leader.
• He told him to stop misusing bodaboda operators in the push for the top county seat.
Kisii County Governor James Ongwae on Sunday said the decision on who ODM party is to field for gubernatorial seat in Kisii has not been decided yet.
He spoke of what he described as unnecessary building up of tension among the candidates ahead of party nominations.
"We are not there yet and that is why we are urging those running round abusing us about it to wait," he said.
Ongwae spoke on Sunday afternoon at a church fundraiser at Etanda PAG in his political backyard in Kitutu Chache North.
Ongwae, in an angry tirade, singled out Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, a gubernatorial hopeful, for censure over a spate of attacks on his administration and him as a county leader.
He told him to stop misusing bodaboda operators in the push for the top county seat.
He told him the mandate to lead the county lies with majority the elderly who vote not the riders.
"He (Arati) has been going round with them thinking they have votes. People who have votes are these old women and men, not those riders," Ongwae said.
He paraded Senator Ongeri, Women Representative Janet Ongera and his Deputy Governor Joash Maangi as candidates in the ultimate county succession matrix ahead of the ODM nominations.
Ongwae was flanked by Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Wibur Ottitchiro (Vihiga) and Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Others at the function included Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka and former South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya.
Nyamweya is also seeking Kisii governor ship on KNC ticket.
Ongwae however said the region continues to solidly stand behind ODM party leader Raila Odinga in his Statehouse bid.
Governor Oparanya on his side said ODM remains more solid and united more than ever.
He told Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, who had been having temporary dalliances with other parties, to confirm if he was in ODM to stay or stick to his UDA.
"I'm speaking as deputy party leader that you be categorical now if you're truly ready to work with us or not," he said.
Speaking on party politics, Ongwae brushed off claims that some candidates were being favored with tickets ahead of official nominations.
"I assure you that ODM would conduct very free and fair nominations and nobody should be worried. Everything will be done right at the proper time," he said.
There was drama after Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka, Simba Arati ally, stormed out of the function after what he described as artificially engineered malfunctioning of the speakers.
He was on the stage and as he prepared to talk a technical hitch arose with the microphones.
The MP insisted that he would not stop working with the Dagoretti MP Simba Arati nonetheless.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Vihiga County leader Wilbur Ottichilo praised the ODM party leader for the devolution gains the country has made.
They rooted for Raila's bid for presidency, saying he is the right person to succeed Uhuru.
Raila said Oparanya has remained steadfast in the country's reform agenda and deserves a chance at Statehouse.
Tolgos told off those who sell the narrative that the ODM leader was a product of the Deep state.
"We may be few from where I come from but we remain firmly behind Raila's presidential bid," stated Tolgos
Maangi said Kisii residents would continue to coalesce under the leadership of Ongwae who should give guidance on the way forward for the community.
Maangi told Janet Ongera and Sam Ongeri, both hopefuls in the race, to give him chance as he is the best poised to lead.
Ongeri on his side told off Arati over a string of abuses on the current Kisii county administration.
He told him to desist and respect other ODM party leaders as he seeks his gubernatorial seat.
Ongeri said as leaders they have strived to work together for years and that is the unity they want to see from other leaders and other aspirants who are seeking the seats.
He likened Arati's bid to a fire of papers.
"If you want to seek a seat come slowly, we are in this party too and we can't work the way some people want us to do," he said
Manson Nyamweya promised flourished development in case he wins the governor seat.