Former ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to United State of America Elkana Odembo. He is among those being fronted for nomination for candidature of Siaya governor PHOTO /FILE
A fresh showdown looms in ODM over the nomination of a candidate for the Siaya governor seat by-election.
While local party officials back Mr Cornel Rasanga, whose election as governor was nullified last week, some big shots at the national office are shopping for an alternative candidate.
Individuals being fronted to replace Mr Rasanga include former ambassador to the US Elkana Odembo and former permanent secretary Kerry Orege.
Thursday, the party’s Siaya branch chairman, Mr Oloo Okanda, said the locals were ready to re-elect Mr Rasanga on an ODM ticket.
“As the people of Siaya, we don’t plan to go back to the primaries. The positions in Siaya had been balanced to cater for the people of Gem, Alego, Rarieda, Sakwa and Ugenya,” he said.
The pre-election pact agreed that Ugenya people take the Senator’s position, Gem (Women Representative), Rarieda (Speaker), Sakwa (deputy governor) and Yimbo took the majority leader’s post.
Mr Okanda warned that ODM risked losing the support of more than 70,000 voters in Mr Rasanga’s Alego backyard if another candidate was picked.
The Nation learnt that some national officials this week held two meetings at a Kisumu hotel to strategise on how to recapture the seat. The leaders, our source said, felt that Mr William Oduol, who overturned Mr Rasanga’s victory, was a formidable candidate who needed an equally strong contender.
“The feeling among the party leadership is that going back for a re-election with Rasanga would be detrimental to the party. He has always been viewed as a stooge of leaders of a top party,” he said.
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