Opposition leader Raila Odinga faces a tough task prevailing on aggrieved aspirants not to ditch his ODM party and not to run as independents.
Several aspirants have cried foul over the party’s decision to issue direct tickets to a number of aspirants. Those facing primary elections through universal suffrage allege massive rigging and violence.
In some areas, some aspirants perceived as strong in grassroots mobilisation, have moved to sister parties within the Azimio coalition, threatening ODM’s dominance in its perceived strongholds.
Raila’s headache is throbbing in his Nyanza backyard where a number of aggrieved aspirants have vowed to run as independents to counter injustice "meted out by the party".
In Homa Bay, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, one of the eight aspirants for governor on the party ticket, has already pulled out of the outfit.
Kidero has since secured the Registrar of Political Parties' approval to run as an independent after the party issued a direct ticket to Woman Representative Gladys Wanga to vie for the seat.
“I am contesting this seat as an independent candidate because the people of Homa Bay want a change in leadership. They say they should be the sole decision-makers,” Kidero said.
In Raila’s home county of Siaya, businessman Tony Yogo has declared he will run for Senate seat as an independent candidate after the party issued a direct ticket to Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Oginga.
Architect Julius Okinda, another aspirant for the seat who was also disappointed with the party’s decision, is also said to be considering running as an independent.
The Azimio presidential aspirant faces an even bigger headache in the race for governor in Siaya after former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and ex-police spokesman Charles Owino teamed up.
The two have joined UDM, a rival party within Azimio, and will be running as governor and running mate on the party ticket after they ditched ODM due to issuance of a direct ticket.
ODM issued the ticket to Senator James Orengo.
Still in Siaya, victories of three incumbent MPs —Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga) and Gideon Ochanda (Bondo) — in last week’s primaries have been rejected by aspirants who claimed polls were marred by irregularities and chaos.
In Gem, former MP Jakoyo Midiwo’s brother, Jalang’o claimed there were widespread irregularities during the primaries.
In Kisumu and Migori, former East African Comunity CAS Ken Obura and Woman Rep Pamela Odhiambo are believed to be weighing options after they were locked out of the party ticket to run for governor.
In Kisumu, incumbent Anyang’ Nyong’o was awarded the ticket while in Migori, Senator Ochillo Ayacko secured the ticket to succeed outgoing Governor Okoth Obado.
-Edited by SKanyara
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