Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Kenya

Nyong’o faults Kidero stand over looming polls

Nyong’o at a polling station during the 2013 elections/FILE

Nyong’o at a polling station during the 2013 elections/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 12 – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Acting Party Leader Anyang’ Nyong’o has dismissed suggestions by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero that the party should give support to non-members who left the party for other political outfits.

Kidero on Friday said ODM should support Ford-Kenya’s Jared Okello, who successfully petitioned the March 4 electoral victory of Nyando MP Fred Outa who belongs to ODM.

The Nairobi Governor also indicated he supports embattled Migori County Governor Zachary Obado who was elected on a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) instead of ODM’s Akong’o Oyugi, who also successfully petitioned the court to annul the election of Governor Obado who is a known to be an ally of Deputy President William Ruto.

The Nairobi Governor said Okelo and Obado were originally members of ODM but were forced to quit during the party’s chaotic 2013 primaries. The polls were a source of open rebellion in the party.

PDP which is headed by the former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara supported CORD leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid during the March 2013 polls but later jumped ship and pledged to support the Jubilee Coalition after Uhuru Kenyatta was declared to have won the March 2013 election.

CORD will face a headache of sorts in Nyando Constituency where they will have to go all out to stem a rebellion due to a coalition agreement which earmarked, the region for ODM meaning that CORD affiliates back their candidate. However this could be tricky if ODM’s Fred Outa is found guilty of electoral bribery and is locked out of the by-election.

Some in the Orange party have suggested that it might be easier for the coalition to field a candidate who will be chosen through a joint nomination.

This is not be the first time ODM will be supporting a candidate from an affiliate party where it enjoys support. For instance the party had backed Ford-Kenya’s Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani in a by-election that was later called off after the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling.

It had even offered a trade-off deal in the Lamu gubernatorial by-election, when it offered to back Amani Coalition’s Issa Timamy until the mini-poll was cancelled after the Court of Appeal overruled the High Court.

In the Migori gubernatorial race, ODM is already bruising for a fight, with ODM leaders from the area promising to take the seat away from the Deputy President’s ally.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Nyong’o clarified that ODM awards its tickets to party members in accordance with the party’s constitution and termed Kidero’s early canvassing as mere speculation.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News