• Wanga is among nine aspirants who have declared interest to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti on the ODM ticket.
• Sources indicate the party seeks to prevail on Magwanga to drop his governor bid and instead deputise Wanga.
Image: File
A storm is brewing in Homa Bay over reports ODM plans to issue a direct ticket to Woman Representative Gladys Wanga to vie for governor.
The Star has established that the party has settled on Wanga as part of its wider plan to politically empower women aspirants and ensure gender equality in nominations.
The party, led by Raila Odinga, has embarked on refunding millions of shillings in nomination fees and will instead issue direct tickets in select regions.
In the last one week, the party has issued direct tickets to at least 10 electoral areas, including three governor positions and parliamentary seats.
The party, the Star understands, is employing a combination of methods, including opinion polls ratings and consensus to pick the most popular candidate for the ticket.
On Monday, ODM National Elections Board chairperson Catherine Muma neither denied nor confirmed the plans.
“No comment. I will speak to the media when I am ready,” she said when asked whether the party has settled on Wanga as its candidate.
Wanga did not respond to phone calls or text messages on whether she has been handed the certificate.
Wanga is among nine aspirants who have declared interest to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti on the ODM ticket.
National Assembly Minority leader John Mbadi withdrew on Monday. Other candidates are current Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata, politician Oyugi Magwanga and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.
They had paid nomination fees in readiness for the primaries on April 18.
Sources indicate the party seeks to prevail on Magwanga to drop his bid and instead deputise Wanga.
Magwanga gave Governor Awiti a run for his money in the 2017 election. Awiti retained the seat on the strength of a Supreme Court ruling that upheld his election.
On Monday, Kidero told the Star he had not received official communication from the party regarding the issuance of direct nomination certificate to Wanga.
“I have also heard the same thing but I want to treat them as rumours because I have received no communication from the party to that effect,” he said.
Kidero, however, maintained that Homa Bay residents should be given a free hand to elect a leader of their choice.
“Leadership should be on the basis of ability not sex. It should be based on ability and competence,” he said.
“Homa Bay people must be given a chance and a choice to elect their own leader - a person who will drive and determine the future of the county.”
Kidero said he has spent a lot of time selling his policies to residents and it is only fair to allow residents to exercise their power in free and fair nominations.
“As far as I know, I’m the only person who knows how to move Homa Bay from the squalor it has been in the last 10 years," he said.
“Outsiders should keep off issues of Homa Bay. We are preparing for nominations on the 18th. ODM is known for its vigor on democratic ethos."
Kidero said they expect and hope the party nomination process will be free and fair and will be reflective of the will of the Homa Bay people.
Edited by A.N