Governor Wilber Ottichilo’s former aide Noah Okaya has been given a go-ahead to vie for the Luanda MP seat.
He was cleared by ANC and issued his certificate.
Okaya will face the incumbent MP Chris Omulele of ODM, Dick Maungu DAP-K, Tom Atingo UDA, Albert Obbuyi Jubilee and Edward Magomere of PPOK.
However, Okaya said he had chosen ANC because of what happened in ODM, saying if he was in the party he would have lost to the incumbent.
Speaking to the Star on phone, he said they should make ANC vibrant.
“Any vibrant party is built by locals before it gets to the national level and it's time for the Mulembe community to stand firm with ANC,” he said.
The aspirant said for Mudavadi to be politically strong, the Luhya community has to stand by him and get the support he needs.
“Leaders are not born, they are natured and supported for them to be good leaders,” he said.
Okaya said the current top leaders in the county and at the national level had their downfalls but were natured to be where they are.
“It's time to nature Musalia Mudavadi for the future politics. One of our own has to be at the front,” he said.
Okaya was the former chief of staff for Vihiga before resigning to join politics.
However, his entry into politics for the Luanda seat has left Ottichilo in dilemma, causing a strained relationship between the governor and Omulele.
Okaya's move to ANC further complicated the political matrix between Ottichilo and Omulele.
The incumbent MP had claimed Okaya was Ottichilo's project to destabilise his political career.
However, Okaya dismissed the claims citing he had personally made the decision.
“I would have wished you shelve your ambitions but I do not have the capacity to advise you to do so,” Ottichilo said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
