Raila asks ODM supporters in Nyanza to vote six-piece
Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga yesterday called on Nyanza residents to only vote for candidates fielded by the party in the August 9 General Election.
Raila said he wants the six counties in the Nyanza region to vote ODM candidates for all elective seats starting from Ward Rep to the president in a bid to strengthen the party in Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition.
He argued that as the coalition’s presidential flag-bearer, he would not want to be a lame-duck leader should he be elected president.
Raila noted that the country is in a critical moment as the election approaches while urging his supporters to be united and vote for ODM candidates only.
“Let our people unite as one because division can make us to fall at this crucial time. I am ready to be your leader if you unite behind me,” he said.
At the same time, Raila defended the party’s top organ over the decision to issue direct tickets to particular aspirants.
There has been an uproar from ODM supporters and some aspirants over the decision by the party National Elections Board to issue direct tickets to specific aspirants.
But the Orange party leader said it was for the sake of peace.
He gave an example of Homa Bay county, which he said was full of political fights between governor aspirants.
Raila says consensus was the only way of ensuring harmony prevails among the aspirants and their supporters.
“I personally called the aspirants for a meeting on how to make peace among themselves because the position could only be held by one person,” Raila said.
He added: “The aspirants settled on Gladys Wanga because she was considered the strongest among her competitors.”
Raila pleaded for unity among the party supporters amid threats of fallout caused by ongoing nominations, especially in Nyanza region.
Popular aspirants
He told residents to speak with one voice, saying he was keen on having ODM party remain strong in the region.
Raila spoke even as a number of aspirants in his Nyanza backyard lamented over shambolic nominations.
The ODM party leader asked those who lost in nominations to join hands with the party flagbearers to avoid division.
He argued that direct tickets were handed to popular aspirants after consensus and to avoid chaos during primaries.
“Even election is repeated several times. It is only one person who will be declared winner. I want our people to get united and focus on one agenda of making everyone to turn up and vote on election day,” he added.
Raila’s allies rooted for a six-piece voting system in his Nyanza political backyard, saying the former Premier stands to have strength to manage the government should he ascends the presidency after the August elections.
ODM party boss spoke at the burial of the late Kenyan Ambassador to Qatar, Patrick Ahenda in Nyasore village in Kabondo Kasipul constituency yesterday.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary and former Jubilee Party secretary-geneeral Raphael Tuju, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti, his deputy Hamilton Orata, Senator Moses Kajwang’, Woman Rep Gladys Wanga and Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili.
Others present were MPs Adipo Okuome, (Karachuonyo), Dr James Nyikal (Seme), Charles Ong’ondo Were (Kasipul), Dr Lillian Gogo (Rangwe) Martin Owino (Ndhiwa) and Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul) among others.
Raila discouraged leaders against spreading clan politics, saying it encourages division.
His brother Oburu Oginga told ODM supporters that the former Prime Minister can only lead the country effectively if he has other leaders backing him at the National Assembly, Senate and county assemblies.
Oburu castigated former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero for ditching ODM to vie for the governor’s post as an independent candidate.
Previous election
In the previous election, Homa Bay was one of the counties that witnessed a rise in the wave of independent candidates after politicians decamped from ODM on claims that they were shortchanged during party primaries.
The same is likely to happen this time and Kidero is leading as an example with leaders who attended the burial telling the former Mumias Sugar boss to terminate his campaigns and back Wanga’s candidature.
Raila said Kidero was called for the consensus meeting but he failed to show up.
Kidero is on record saying he was not called for any consensus meeting, a move that prompted him to vie as an independent candidate.
However, leaders present at the burial dismissed his excuse, accusing him of betraying ODM.
Wanga challenged the former governor to “concede defeat and move on.”
She also called for unity among politicians, promising that she will lead by example by working closely with her running-mate, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, who for a long time has been her political rival.
