Inside Politics

Raila’s man in North Rift ditches ODM to join Kanu

Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 07:03 | By
ODM North Rift chair Micah Kigen. Photo/File

ODM leader Raila Odinga has been dealt a major blow after his point man in the North Rift decamped to Kanu.

North Rift ODM chairman Micah Kigen will now vie for the Keiyo South parliamentary seat on the independence party ticket setting the stage for a bruising battle with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.

Kigen, who has unsuccessfully vied for the seat three times, yesterday dared his opponents to prepare for a bruising duel come August 9.

“Keiyo South here I come. Prosperity is your portion. This is the hope you’ve been waiting for years,” said Kigen as he unveiled his manifesto yesterday.

He pledged to prioritise the provision of water to all households in the constituency.

“A lot of money has over the years been allocated to our constituency but we have nothing to show for it,” said Kigen.

One-man show

People Daily has learnt that Kigen’s move was triggered by behind-the-scenes supremacy wars among Raila’s supporters in the region.

Long-term supporters of the ODM leader, including Kigen, are said to be uncomfortable with new entrants.

Among those who are not seeing eye-to-eye with Kigen is Elgeyo-Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos who was one of the leading proponents of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in the region. 

But Kigen yesterday said that he had no problem with Tolgos but added that “he should be a uniting factor and recognise that there are people who have been in the system for long.”

 “He was taking advantage of his governorship at the expense of others. How can one person call the shots? ODM was gaining popularity in the region but it has been turned into a one-man show,” said Kigen.

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