ODM leader Raila Odinga is facing a backslash in his own party in the Kisumu County gubernatorial race with Nyong’o.
Raila has managed to pocket more than 1500 delegates from the seven sub-counties in Kisumu County to endorse Prof Anyang Nyong’o re-election as governor.
The delegates declared that governor Nyong’o will be their flag bearer for the position signalling that there will be no nominations for the gubernatorial seat in the county.
This means Nyong’o therefore shall be given a direct ticket to vie for the second term. But the move is likely to set ODM leadership on a collision course in the coming days after a section of the party members endorsed former Chief Administrative Secretary for East Africa Community Ken Obura to face Nyong’o in the party primaries.
Mr Obura has received backing from former governor Jack Ranguma, former Speaker Onyango Oloo and Kisumu Senator Fred Outa.
The Kisumu based bigwigs pledged to mount a well oiled and structured campaign to counter Nyong’o. Obura termed the endorsement as an affront to democracy saying people should be let free to pick leaders of their choice.
“It is now appearing as if ODM leadership is imposing candidates on the people instead of allowing them to pick leaders of their choice. The endorsement was pre-planned and we won’t accept it. It’s not binding to all. It’s skewed and we shall take the protest to the party headquarters’ doorstep,” he vowed.
