Siaya Governor, Cornel Rasanga has become the first governor to declare he will run for a parliamentary seat after his second term as governor comes to an end in 2022.
Speaking at an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates meeting on Friday, September 3, in Siaya, Rasanga declared that he will be vying for the Alego Usonga seat in the 2022 General Election, stating that he was too young to retire from politics.
"I want to ask my people to consider voting me as their MP in 2022. I am not ready yet to go for retirement, for I have sharp brains and I'm still young," Rasanga stated.
At the meeting, the governor lashed out at his critics, who he said are using his age to advance their political ambitions. He added that he will be elected based on his track record, not age.
“I am not going to stop my bid for the MP seat. I will traverse Alego Usonga Sub-County to sell my ideologies and policies to the people. It is time to bring in new leadership,” the governor stated.
Rasanga made entry to the political scene when he vied for the governor's seat in 2013. In 2017 he was re-elected as the Siaya governor on an ODM ticket.
Also present at the meeting was Raila’s brother and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative, Oburu Odinga.
The Alego Usonga parliamentary seat is currently held by Samuel Atandi. On his side, Atandi stated that he was ready to battle with the incumbent governor for the seat.
“I want to ask Rasanga to retire peacefully. The parliamentary seat that he is eying does not match him. If I defeat him, he shall be a laughing stock and would lose respect he has earned in the past,” Atandi stated.
Rasanga has been criticised for poor leadership with corruption allegations dominating his tenure as governor.
Recently, a group of angry residents stormed the county headquarters, protesting alleged cases of financial impropriety at the county government. This was after West Asembo MCA, Ambrose Akuno confessed to receiving Ksh 150,000 bribe from the county executive.
