A fight for elective seats is threatening to split Raila Odinga's ODM party as two of his confidants clashed openly over a gubernatorial seat.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga's newly uncovered rivalry has gone a notch higher over Governor Cyprian Awiti's seat.
Even though the ODM leader has always challenged women to go for elective seats, the two lawmakers are nowhere close to back each other for leadership, judging by the latest clash.
Millie, in a post shared on her social media pages, has vowed to give Wanga no breathing space as she eyes the Homa Bay governor's seat.
She insists that in as much as she supports women leadership, she would not endorse Wanga in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
“Gladys would be the worst mistake Home Bay would make for the choice of governor. She has not done well with the National Government Affirmative Action fund and the ever-consuming Sacco,” Odhiambo wrote on her Facebook page.
She poured cold water on Wanga's ambitions to succeed Governor Awiti, further holding, "I hereby declare you do not have my support. You can unleash all the online warriors in heaven and on earth but it only makes my resolve firm. I do not support you, period.”
While Wanga has been traversing Homa Bay to grow her popularity ahead of the highly competitive race, Millie argues that she (Wanga) is an outsider who should not be elected as the County boss.
"We can't accept outsiders to come around dictating us on what to do. Furthermore, they are beneficiaries in what we fight for many years," the Suba North MP remarked at a past event.
The Homa Bay governor's seat held by Governor Awiti is hanging on a thread following a successful petition by Oyugi Magwanga.
Magwanga opposed Awiti's election and won in lower courts. The governor's fate is now in the hands of the Supreme Court though it is anticipated that the petitioner will still make a comeback to the race in 2022.
