Storm after Ojaamong asks ODM to give Mutua ticket
Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has asked the Orange party to grant Woman Rep Florence Mutua direct nomination for Busia gubernatorial seat in next year’s elections.
Speaking in Kwangamor village in Teso South sub-county in Amukura East Ward over the weekend, Ojaamong proposed that Mutua be given a direct ticket because she has been loyal to both ODM and party leader Raila Odinga.
Ojaamong’s latest pronouncement is a complete about-turn as he has been drumming up support for his deputy Moses Mulomi.
“We need to have free, fair and credible party nominations ahead of the 2022 General Election.
However, we shall make considerations for members whose loyalty to the party has been unwavering throughout,” he said.
Move has been received with mixed reaction since the county boss has been seen on several occasions campaigning for Mulomi, whom he has openly termed as the right man to succeed him.
But with Ojaamong’s apparent change of tune, Mulomi seems to have been left in a dilemma with less than nine months to the General Election.
Media reports
Contacted yesterday, Mulomi downplayed the matter, insisting that his boss may have been quoted out of context.
“As far as I know the governor has already made up his mind to support me. I cannot comment on media reports since I was not at the function. Neither has anybody else told me about it,” Mulomi said.
Mutua, the ODM Deputy Secretary General, welcomed Ojaamong’s proposal, saying it would be quite in order for the party to reward its strong and ardent members like her.
“I will not be the first person to be given a direct nomination. In any case, this would save the party resources and possibilities of a fallout as a result of a hotly contested primaries,” she said.
Battle for party ticket has attracted five heavyweights who are likely to face off at the nominations
Others eyeing the seat are Nambale MP Dr. Sakwa Bunyasi, Mutua, former Funyula MP Dr Paul Otuoma, Busia Senator Amos Wako, Mulomi and Dr Lucas Meso.
Yesterday, Otuoma dismissed Ojaamong’s proposal, insisting that ODM stands for democracy and that all aspirants will have to be vetted by the electorate through the nomination exercise.
“Ojaamong should be the last person to attempt to impose a candidate on Busia people.
His reign has been terrible for the residents because there was no service. We cannot allow whatever he is talking about,” Otuoma said.
Should the party give Mutua a direct ticket, other aspiring candidates might defect to other big parties like United Democratic Alliance, Amani National Congress and Ford Kenya.
The move comes few weeks after ODM County Secretary Innocent Oluku called on residents to rally behind Mutua to succeed Ojaamong.
He spoke at the weekend at a press conference attended by Mutua in Busia town during the launch of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission voter registration drive.
In her address, the Woman Rep urged leaders to serve all the people indiscriminately without alienating them on the basis of political alignment and tribes.
Bargaining power
She at the same time called on residents to come out in large numbers and register as voters in order to increase the bargaining power at the National level.
“I want to call upon all the people in Busia to come out in large numbers and register as voters so that we can get good leaders and also have a say in national politics,” said Mutua.
With Otuoma back in ODM, things look rocky in the party, as a section of leaders now want democracy to prevail over loyalty.
“ODM has an elections board, which is supposed to be non-partisan. If by any chance it starts to show favouritism, then this will split the party and will cost Raila heavily at national level,” said a resident. – KNA
