ODM candidate rallies for PDP and TNA contesters

By Robert Nyasato

Just 21 days to the General Elections, major political alignment is shaping up within Cord partners in Kisii.

In the new alignments those gunning for county seats including Public Works Minister Chris Obure and former PS James Ongwae are the biggest losers. Obure is aspiring to be senator while Ongwae is running for governor.

Leading the shifting of alliances within the Cord arrangement, Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka announced that he would support Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) leader Omingo Magara for the senate seat, Lumumba Nyaberi of TNA for governor and Brigid Ombati of PDP for women representative slot.

Ordinarily, Onyonka who is out to capture the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket would have campaigned for Obure, Ongwae and Mary Otara who is eyeing the women representative slot on an orange ticket.

Speaking to The Standard, Onyonka said the only undisputed issue in Cord was to marshal support for presidential flag bearer, Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“My agenda is to make sure I deliver the votes to Raila...after that other candidates can fight on their own,” Onyonka asserted, putting to the fore indifferences in orange house in Kisii.

His move is billed to improve Magara's chances of clinching the senate seat against Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Sam Ongeria and Obure. Currently Magara is enjoying fair rating buoyed by backstabbing among the ODM leaders in Kisii.

“My feeling is that there is census among the electorate that they want young people to take over leadership in Kisii,” Onyonka said.

Obure's chances of delivering the seat were compromised after ODM executive secretary with whom they hail from Bobasi constituency was nominated by the party to the seat.

Reached, Magara said the time for seasoned politicians like Ongeri and Obure was up and they should be ready to offer advise to young leaders who will take the mantle from them come March 4.

“A big revolution is in the offing...we want to move Kisii politics to the next level,” Magara told The Standard.

During Raila's tour of Kisii last week, Magara told the PM to his face that they wold only campaign for his presidential bid but other slots will go to PDP.