Tension has emerged in the late Senator Ben Okello's family over who should contest for the seat.
This follows declaration by Will Okello, the senator's eldest son, that he deserves to inherit his father's mantle as well as his nephew Okundi Okello.
According to members of Okello's Kanyimach clan, they have endorsed Okundi who they state that they had settled on after wide consultations.
"Our choice is not out of the blue. We have deliberated and settled on Okundi. We are requesting the ODM party leadership to listen to Okello’s family and accept our chosen man to take over the seat left by the late Okello," stated Samson Mumbo, a Kanyimach elder.
[caption caption="Opposition leader Raila Odinga together with Willis Okello, the late senator's son"]
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However, Willis has refused to back down for Okundi despite meetings with family members.
"I am Okello’s first-born son, and should there be anything like a family endorsement, then let other people not take advantage of this situation to coerce my family to serve their personal greed," he asserted.
It is reported that the battle for the legislator's seat is intensifying as Okello's two widows, Hellen Achieng and Ruth Auma are supporting different sides.
Wheres Ms Achieng is backing Okundi, Ms Auma is rooting for her son Willis.
Additionally, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party is equally divided after top officials differed over how to pick a nominee for the Migori senatorial by-election.
The party's decision to settle for a direct nomination ahead of the byelection, scheduled for October 8, appears to have rattled some members.
The differences emerged yesterday after the party’s National Electoral Board (NEB) chairperson, Judith Pareno, shot down recommendations from its Migori branch that formed an electoral college and picked former Cabinet minister Ochillo Ayacko as the nominee.
The Electoral College, chaired by branch chairman Phillip Makabongo, forwarded Mr Ayacko’s name and said he beat seven other candidates.
[caption caption="ODM leader Raila Odinga, Ochilo Ayakcho and Migori Governor Zachary Obado as the two shake hand during the burial of late Migori County Senator Ben Oluoch Okello"]
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