Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Top Nyanza ODM leaders opt for devolved seats


Top Nyanza ODM leaders opt for devolved seats

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The Orange party bigwigs in Nyanza have chosen not to defend their parliamentary seats in preference to the newly created devolved positions. Majority of the MPs have set their eyes on the senate positions with Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o being the latest entrant in the race for Kisumu county. The Kisumu Rural MP and the ODM secretary general will launch his campaign for the seat at the Tom Mboya Labour College on August 17. The college management confirmed yesterday that the minister has already made a down payment for the venue.
Sources in the Nyong’o campaign team said the launch ceremony will culminate in the unveiling of a rapid campaign to drum up support for the minister in the seven-constituency county. The constituencies include Kisumu Town West, Kisumu Town East, Nyando, Muhoroni, Nyakach and the newly created Kisumu Central and Seme. Lands minister James Orengo, who will be battling it out with Finance assistant minister and PM Raila Odinga’s elder brother Oburu Oginga for the Siaya county  is among the ODM top guns in the region who have declared interest in the senator position.
Others are Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’, who will battle with it out   will businessman Hilary Alila for the Homa Bay seat. In Kisii county, ODM National Executive Council member Janet Ong’era will face off with Public Works minister Chris Obure while party National Elections Board Secretary Philip Okundi will go for the Homa Bay governor post.
Former Internal security assistant minister and Ndhiwa MP Orwa Ojode had shown interest in the seat before he passed on in a plane crash on June 10. In Siaya and Kisii counties, the race for the devolved positions is likely to raise political temperatures because the aspirants for the senatorial seats are Raila’s close allies. Orengo and Oburu are key advisers of the premier and their competition is likely to raise fireworks in the contest for the Siaya seat. In Kisii, Obure is the ODM pointman in the Gusiiland while Ong’era is a key player in Raila’s campaign strategy. The latest entrant in the race for the seat is former South Mugirango MP and ODM treasurer Omingo Magara, who is however, alied to the G7 alliance.

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