Raila friends put to test his Nyanza support

By Standard Team

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s key allies are spoiling for a fight in the ODM party nominations for the senate and gubernatorial positions in Nyanza region.

The high number of candidates who have close links to the PM with some having worked under him, is expected to present a credibility test to the party’s Election Board chaired by Col (rtd) Muthee Kathurima.

The fight is getting intense in South Nyanza region where Cabinet ministers, MPs, former senior civil servants, parastatal heads and key party officials will face off in the nominations.

Raila has had to intervene and assure the candidates the exercise will be free and fair as no one will get direct nomination.

“The task ahead will require sacrifices and ideological commitment and the road is going to be rough with blackmail, propaganda, infiltration and open bribery, but I urge our supporters to be steadfast,” Raila said.

This was meant to stem a fallout in the party ahead of the election and in the backdrop of defections by assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru, nominated MP Rachael Shebesh to TNA and Sotik MP Joyce Laboso to URP.

Fair nominations

Assistant minister Richard Onyonka, a key ally of the PM, has expressed his concerns over the party nominations following former ODM presidential campaign manager James Ongwae’s declaration to vie for Kisii governor’s seat.

Onyonka, elected on a People’s Democratic Party ticket, and Ongwae’s rivalry was exhibited recently when the assistant minister blocked Ongwae from speaking at Nyaboge trading centre.

“I have decided to stick in ODM after Raila gave me a personal assurance the nomination will be free and fair,” Onyonka said.

Public Works minister Chris Obure and former ODM executive director Ms Janet Ong’era are to face off in the race for the Kisii County senator seat. Both are key allies of the PM.

Former Inspector General of State Corporations Peter Ondieki resigned from the PM’s office to contest the Nyamira governor’s post and is expected to face Makori Bikundo, John Nyagarama and Manga Mochama.

URP dominance

Lawyer Okong’o Omogeni, the former board chairman of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission  is reported to be eyeing ODM ticket as he faces Ford People’s Henry Obwocha, lawyer Mong’are Bw’Okongo and others in senatorial race.

“ODM will have a rough time in South Nyanza region during the next general election as majority of the voters are supporting URP,” former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara

Magara said a number of political giants in the region were set to decamp in a few weeks’ time.

“We are set to witness political realignment in the region and it is fact ODM will have to sweat it out as its support has waned particularly in the larger Gusii region,” Magara stated.

West Mugirango MP James Gesami disputed the election of Timothy Bosire as Nyamira County chairman in the recent party grassroots election leading to a stand-off. Concerned that continued wrangling in Nyamira could hurt his support in Nyanza, sources indicated Raila summoned Gesami, Bosire and former MP Joseph Kiangoi to his office last Wednesday where the differences were ironed out.

“We’ve resolved our differences and will work as a team,” said Bosire.

In Siaya County, the senate seat is likely to create a supremacy battle between Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Oginga and Lands Minister James Orengo, key pillars in Raila inner core cabinet.

Orengo admitted the high number of contestants posed some challenge to ODM, he however quickly added the party was keen on having a united team even after the nomination so that Raila’s State House bid isn’t derailed.

Uhuru and TNA factor

“My vying for the same position with Oburu will not create a rift. I will continue supporting the party even if I lose the nomination,” Orengo said.

In Homa Bay County that comprises Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa Bay, Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo areas (the former South Nyanza), battle lines are already drawn with Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ running for the senate post.

A businessman Sammy Wakiaga is contesting the governors’ position against former Rangwe MP Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi, so to Marie Stopes Country Director Cyprian Otieno Awiti from the eastern Karachuonyo.

In Kisumu County, Raila is yet to show his hand with the contest for governorship pitting Ocholla Ogoda, a former Gor Mahia Foot ball club chairman, and Maxwell Otieno Ogondo, a Nairobi-based engineer.

Cases of violence and threats of defections to other parties have been witnessed in Nyanza, including the recent by-elections in Ndhiwa — considered an ODM stronghold.

Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga says the party will emerge even stronger from after the nomination as it had learnt from past mistakes.

TNA scooped a win in Nyaramba/Nyangoge ward by-election recently something that must have disappointed the PM, forcing him back to the drawing board.

MPs Walter Nyambati (Kitutu Masaba), Wilfred Ombui (North Mugirango), Dr Robert Monda (Nyaribari Chache) and Prof Sam Ongeri (Nyaribari Masaba) have indicated they would back Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA party.

— Reports by Naftali Makori, Jackson Okoth and Evelyne Kwamboka