ODM issues direct ticket in Turkana governor race
A supremacy battle is looming in the race to succeed Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok with three camps allied to Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya seeking the coalition’s ticket.
The development comes even as the ODM issued a direct ticket to Loima MP Jeremiah Lomorukai to vie for the seat in the August 9 elections.
Jubilee on the other hand has former Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes and Turkana South MP James Lomenen, who have to square it out for the party ticket as talks continue about who should fly its flag.
Whoever gets the coalition’s ticket will face the candidate of their main rival- the Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
UDA has fronted Turkana Central MP John Lodepe.
On Saturday, ODM leader Raila Odinga handed the ticket to Lomorukai to face his competitors.
“Thank you, my party leader, Raila, and the entire ODM leadership for trusting me to fly the party’s flag in Turkana. I promise you a landslide victory come August 9,” Lomorukai said as he received the nomination certificate, adding that Turkana people believe in ODM and Raila’s leadership.
The move complicates matters for Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance political formation, as Raila’s ODM party seeks to retain the seat it has won in the last two elections.
Any division in the Azimio-One Kenya coalition threatens fortunes in the county as it means an easy sail for the UDA candidate, who already has Nanok’s backing.
The split among the three camps played out during Raila’s tour of the region last week. Accompanied by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Raila took his campaigns to Lodwar, Lokichar, Kaeris, Lokichogio, and Kakuma.
Other issues
Lomorukai, who is serving his first term in Parliament, says he is equal to the task as the region is an ODM stronghold.
“I am the only elected MP from Turkana who has stuck with Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta when others had run away during BBI and other issues that Azimio has been advancing,” he said. Throughout Raila’s rallies in Turkana, the anxiety of the three was displayed publicly, with Munyes urging a united force between ODM and Jubilee to defeat Lodepe.
“All affiliated parties fronting Raila to be the fifth president must unite to win the gubernatorial elections as well as deliver maximum votes for the presidency. As it is, there is a problem that needs to be resolved as early as possible,” Munyes said on Sunday in Lodwar, adding that he should be to fly the Azimio la Umoja ticket.
“I am qualified and competent for the job, I have a track record and I worked and been in opposition with you (Raila) and I have also worked for my people of Turkana,” Munyes added, as he asked Raila to prevail on his rivals to back his bid.
He said he already has a deputy, assembly Speaker Ekitela Lokaale, a former gubernatorial aspirant who defected from UDA.
“Jubilee also has MPs Lomenen (Turkana South), Joyce Emanikor (Woman Rep) and Ali Lokiru (Turkana East), all who were in UDA. They are back to Azimio and are a force that can now deliver victory,” the ex-CS added.
He added that Senator Malachy Ekal, who had defected to Wiper from UDA, was a major boost under the Azimio banner.
Lomorukai said he was the one who organised the rally in Lodwar to prove that Turkana was still an ODM zone after Nanok said the party had died when he started supporting Ruto.
