•Apart from losing control of the bicameral parliament, having few MPs elected on a party means reduced allocation from political parties’ funds.
•The directive by Raila is a blow to several aspirants who had found a home in small Azimio parties in the region.
Image: RAILA ODINGA FACEBOOK
ODM leader Raila Odinga on Monday appealed to his Nyanza backyard to vote only ODM candidates in the August election.
The Azimio-One Kenya Alliance presidential hopeful told his backyard not to make him a general without foot soldiers.
He directed his supporters to vote all MCAs, Senators, MPS, Woman Representatives and Governors on ODM ticket to make the party the dominant outfit in the Azimio coalition.
“We must all be united and vote six-piece at the grass-root. I will only be successful if we are all united here at the grassroots,” Raila said.
Apart from losing control of the bicameral parliament, having few MPs elected on a party means reduced allocation from political parties’ funds.
The directive by Raila is a blow to several aspirants who had found a home in small Azimio parties in the region.
Most of the aspirants who ditched the dominant party in the region feared the ODM primaries will either not be free and fair or the party had favourite candidates for the ticket.
Some of the big names who had joined Azimio parties included Ugenya MP David Ochieng who is defending his seat on MD, Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch (DAP-K), former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo vying for Siaya governor on UDM and Dalmas Otieno seeking to succeed Okoth Obado on Jubilee.
Raila said Nyanza must have all its leaders on the ODM ticket to give it an edge over other parties in the larger Azimio coalition.
The ODM boss spoke on Monday at Kosewe village in Kabondo Kasipul, during the burial of the late Kenyan ambassador to Qatar Paddy Ahenda.
The Azimio candidate also warned against aspirants whom he claimed are running divisive narratives targeting some candidates.
Raila was accompanied by EALA MP Oburu Odinga, Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), James Ongwae (Kisii), Cyprian Awitti (Homabay), Gladys Wanga and Azimio secretariat executive director Raphael Tuju.
Oburu Odinga said it will be useless to have Raila as President without foot soldiers.
He said Raila’s presidency will only deliver if he is given enough ODM elected leaders to defend his presidency at both the national and county levels.
“That is why we must vote all ODM candidates in the coming elections,” Oburu who is Raila’s elder brother said.
The EALA lawmaker also called on the community to ensure they record 100 per cent voter turnout in August adding that the community’s vote will be instrumental in deciding the Raila, Ruto contest.
Kisii Governor James Ongwae said Nyanza must demonstrate serious voter turn-out if the region is to win the highest seat on the land.
“We have not been serious in Nyanza when it comes to presidential voting, we must vote 100 per cent if we want our son to win,” Ongwae said.
Tuju who read President Uhuru Kenyatta’s message urged aspirants who lost in the ongoing nominations to move on and focus on the bigger picture.
The funeral service provided a bashing platform for former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero who has defied the ODM leader and is now contesting the Homabay governor seat on an independent ticket.
Speakers hit at former Kidero describing him as a spoiler who is out to divide the Luo community.
Kidero was absent from the funeral service.
Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were said Kidero he is ungrateful to the ODM leader even after being handed direct tickets in both the 2013 and 2017 elections in Nairobi.
“We don’t want any confusing messages by people who were favoured in the last elections,” Ong’ondo said.
Homabay Governor Cyprian Awitti said they will not allow the former governor to divide the community after refusing to attend consensus meeting.
“There are people who couldn’t deliver in Nairobi, now they have come here to divide our people. From Kericho it will be six-piece,” Awiti said.
The leaders also vowed to rally the region into voting six-piece for ODM candidates.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Ochieng’ Owili said the region should make ODM the dominant outfit in the Azimio - One Kenya Alliance
Also at the funeral were MPs James Nyikal (Seme), Ochieng’ Owili (Kisumu DG), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), and Martin Owino (Ndhiwa).
Others were Moses Kajwang (Homabay Senator), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Adipo Okuome (Karachuonyo), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul) and Babu Owino (Embakasi East).
Edited by Kiilu Damaris