The hopefuls, especially from ODM’s Nyanza strongholds, are facing an acid test from disgruntled aspirants who found homes in other Azimio parties following ‘shambolic’ primaries.
Already some of Raila’s team who benefited from the favours are devising survival tactics, including pushing six-piece voting to elbow out their competitors.
They want voters to elect ODM candidates for all the elective seats of MCA, MP, senator, woman representative governor and president.
Anti-six-piece sentiment is getting stronger by the day. Voters are saying the candidates are being imposed on them, denying them the right to make up their own minds and vote for their favourites.
Political analyst Kidi Mwagan said leaders will be elected purely on account of their personal efforts and not the party colours.
The city lawyer dismissed six-piece voting, terming it an idea coming late in the day when "the horse has galloped away.
“Any leader elected on ODM ticket, especially in Nyanza, will be on account of their personal effort. The general consensus among the Luo Nyanza electorate is 'Only Baba's vote is guaranteed'," Mwaga told the Star.
“Our people have realised that overdependence on the party in isolation to produce credible leaders is to set oneself up for disappointment. This world view was exacerbated by the shambolic primaries that were dubbed consensus.”
Leading the six-piece call is ODM national chairman John Mbadi.
The National Assembly Minority leader has demanded zoning of the four Nyanza counties of Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori and Kisumu for ODM to capture all Nyanza seats.
“Nyanza is ODM's stronghold, hence, it should be painted Orange, we have also not fielded our candidates in areas where our affiliates are the dominant parties,” Mbadi said.
However, growing antipathy to six-piece voting by Azimio affiliate parties and independent candidates threatens to spoil the party for the ODM on its own turf.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) secretary general David Ohito dismissed claims that ODM has swallowed Azimio in Nyanza. He said the only seat that is non-negotiable is the presidency.
Ohito, who is on a joint ticket with former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo for Siaya governor, said they are threatened by the ODM wave and will take the battle to the party’s doorsteps.
“Any other seat in that place won by an Azimio-friendly candidate or an independent candidate from Nyanza is no threat to a Raila presidency. The reality is out there and this is an election like no other,” Ohito told the Star on the phone.
The former journalist said argued the six-piece narrative is not in the spirit of Azimio, which is home to 26 parties.
“There is nothing justifiable on earth that will make people vote six-piece this time round. President (Mwai) Kibaki had Just about 42 MPS and that did not stop him from leading the country and leaving a mark as president,” he said.
“We will take the battle to their doorsteps, we will be on the side of the people and let those popular candidates win in a democratic free and fair competition. We will make sure it is not six-piece because we are super confident.”
In his recent visit to Nyanza counties, Raila championed the six-piece narrative, saying it was necessary to give ODM the power to carry out Azimio's ideas. He endorsed ODM lineups at every stop.
In Migori, Odinga endorsed Senator Ochillo Ayacko, the ODM governor candidate, as well as several ODM MPs and MCA candidates.
At the Migori Primary Grounds during his rally, Ayacko was endorsed as rival, former Migori MP and DAP-K candidate John Pesa, looked on.
Former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, and the Jubilee governor candidate, shunned the rallies.
Otieno's deputy Maneno Mwikwabe said in a statement they were "not involved in, nor consulted on the planning of the Azimio leader's visit".
Mwikwabe termed ODM's moves "bullying" and "demanded that all Azimio candidates get a fair chance at the vote since there's no real threat from the rival coalition of Kenya Kwanza in Migori".
He said they have kept off joint rallies and they have never been involved.
Ochillo is facing stiff competition from Pesa and Dalmas in the race to succeed Governor Okoth Obado.
The senator is banking on the strong party wave in the region to beat his competitors who have also served as MPs and are depending on their earlier development records to win votes.
In neighbouring Homa Bay, Woman Representative Gladys Wanga is facing former Nairobi county boss Evans Kidero, who is running as an independent.
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong’o's chances of reelection are threatened by pioneer Governor Jack Ranguma. He is relying on his larger Kano clan to thwart economist Nyong'o who has been praised for modernising the lakeside city.
Well-known Siaya Senator James Orengo is not resting easy despite flying the ODM colours.
Former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo is out to vanquish the seasoned politician and lawyer with his little known UDM party.
In the parliamentary contest, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir is on the verge of winning a fourth term as an independent. His main challenger is Nicholas Oricho whom he defeated in 2017.
Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch (MDG) is also seeking to retain the seat in a rematch with Woman Representative Rosah Buyu who has the ODM ticket.
The two locked horns in 2013, a contest Olago won on a Ford Kenya ticket.
In Rangwe, Homa Bay county, former MP George Oner, an independent, is burning the midnight oil to end Lilian Gogo's ambition of retaining the seat on ODM's ticket.
A serious contest is also brewing in Kisumu Central where incumbent Fred Ouda is running as an independent after losing the ODM primary to businessman Dr Joshua Oron.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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