President Uhuru Kenyatta’s new move has rendered the forthcoming Migori County Senatorial seat by-election as good as a done deal for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
ODM party candidate Ochillo Ayacko, who turned down President Kenyatta’s appointment to an ambassadorial role, may have landed an early victory in the race with the new move by the Head of State.
This is after the president picked Ochillo’s main opponent, Dalmas Otieno, to be a member of SRC.
[caption caption="Former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno meets President Uhuru Kenyatta(PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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Dalmas, a former Cabinet Minister was appointed to form part of the new SRC commissioners by the President at a time he is having his eyes set on the Migori Senate seat.
The former Rongo Member of Parliament had unsuccessfully sought the ODM party ticket which the party handed to Ayacko forcing him to seek a new home.
During the weekend, Dalmas joined the National Liberal Party (NLP), a party associated with former Nyamira Senator Kennedy Mong’are.
He was expected to face-off Ayacko on the NLP party ticket.
Dalmas has reportedly accepted the State offer and is set to make an announcement that would calm down political temperatures in Migori.
The former MP prides in being part of the legislators who spawned the formation of SRC during his tenure as the minister for public service.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado has been a the forefront vouching for Dalmas to take over the Senate seat, castigating his ODM party for handpicking his rival for the ticket.
The president picked him to represent public service commission in an announcement that saw former KPLC boss Ben Chumo’s slot for the SRC Chairperson filled by Mrs Lyne Mangich pending vetting by Parliament.
President Kenyatta's close ties with the former MP emerged earlier in his first term in office when he appointed him a special envoy to Juba, South Sudan.
This comes at a time ODM party leader Raila Odinga has come out to put the house in order.
On Wednesday Mr Odinga announced that the party had solidly endorsed Ochillo for the Migori seat.
“The party came up with the name of Hon Ochilo Ayacko as its candidate. There were other permanent members of the party but after extensive consultation with all members and they have agreed to support the party candidate.
“The formal presentation of the party ticket will take place tomorrow in Migori and campaigns will kick off afterward. As the ODM party leader, I have come here to consult with everyone and they have given me an assurance of their support for the candidate,” stated Mr Odinga during an address at Orange House on Wednesday afternoon.
[caption caption="Former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno(PHOTO/COURTESY)"]
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