Raila party to go it alone in Western region

By Peter Atsiaya

Kakamega KENYA: Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya has said a decision by CORD to allow affiliate parties to field candidates separately would affect their campaigns in Western region.

Mr Oparanya said ODM leaders would not team up with Trade minister Moses Wetangula of Ford-Kenya and Federal Party of Kenya’s Cyrus Jirongo in their campaigns for various candidates.

“ODM has decided to go it alone in Western region because we want to win more elective seats,” said Oparanya.

The minister was addressing the Press at Nabongo Mumias Mausoleum in Matungu constituency where he unveiled a campaign programme for ODM in the region.

He was accompanied by ODM Kakamega senatorial candidate Prof Khasiani Shianyisa and party’s Matungu parliamentary candidate Paul Posho. Mr Wetangula is the third principal in CORD that also has Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Mr Jirongo shelved his bid for presidency and had his party join CORD. He will be running for the Kakamega senator’s seat.

Speaking to the Press after IEBC cleared him to contest at Kakamega High School last week, Jirongo said his party had taken root in the region and would win a sizeable number of elective seats.

Wetangula recently met candidates vying for various seats on a Ford-Kenya ticket in Bungoma and rolled out their campaigns.

Reform agenda

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid to win the Western region votes got a boost after a group of professionals from the region backed his presidential bid.

Western Professionals for Reform (Wefor) said they would not support Amani presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi because he was not capable of pushing the reforms agenda.

“Implementing reforms is not an easy task because those opposed to change would put up serious resistance that requires a courageous leader to overcome,” said Wefor chairman Joseph Simekha.

-Additional reporting by Eric Lungai