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Raila calls for end to early campaigns

Monday, February 22nd, 2021 09:47 | By
Raila Odinga.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has directed politicians eyeing Homa Bay County gubernatorial seat in the 2022 General Election to suspend their campaigns and concentrate on the ongoing push for constitutional amendments.

While expressing concerns about the early campaigns that have taken centre stage in the county ahead of next year’s elections, Raila told the aspirations to put on hold their campaigns until time was ripe.

“I want to remind you that we have a national task ahead of us that requires all your efforts. We must aim at bigger picture instead of focusing on county politics like I see you doing here in Homa Bay,” Raila said.

He directed politicians to slow down on their campaigns, noting that early vote hunt is likely to derail the realisation of constitutional amendments through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

The ODM party boss asked Homa Bay residents to register as voters to enable them participate in the forthcoming referendum.

“The fate of BBI will one day be determined by the votes that Kenyans will cast. I want Homa Bay to lead in the number of people who support this initiative,” he said.

A section of politicians who have declared interest in the seat are already crisscrossing the county as they seek support from residents even before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) opens the campaign doors.

Politicians seeking to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti in 2022 took their campaign trail in front of Raila who was attending a funeral of the former Homa Bay County council clerk Zachary Opiyo in Ratanga in Ndhiwa constituency on Saturday.

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero opened the campaign agenda; saying he is out to transform the lives of residents in Ndhiwa by developing the sugarcane sector.

Kidero criticised the county government for failing to improve the road network in Ndhiwa. “It is unfortunate that sugarcane farmers do not get anything after their hard labour on their farms,” he said.

Homa Bay Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata who has also declared interest to succeed his boss said he has what it takes to run a county government if he becomes the governor.

“I have learnt all systems in devolution and therefore deserves to be given a chance to continue with the ongoing projects,” Orata said. Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga argued that she is the rightful candidate to succeed Awiti.

ODM national chairman John Mbadi who is also gunning for the seat said he is more qualifi ed to be the next Homa Bay governor.

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